Dispute over lake

Press, 13 January 1982, Page 17

Dispute over lake

The most recent word, but certainly not the last word, on the inclusion of the Lake Christabel area in the proposed national reserve (based on the Lewis Pass) was issued by the Forest Service just before Christmas. It tried to clarify the confusion that has arisen over the apparently conflicting demands of conservation and exploitation in the area. ' Lake. Christabel and the Blue Grey River valley just south of the proposed national reserve have not been included in the draft proposals published by the Department of Lands and Survey. But part of the area

sought by the conservator ists, including the. superb! scenic Lake Christabel itsel have been gazetted by th . Forest Service as an ecolog , cal reserve. i This ecological reserv will be developed as a n creational area only so fa as it does not conflict wit the primary purpose of th ecological area, according t the Forest Service. The forest will be adminis tered by Inangahua distric staff from the Reefton head quarters of the Forest Sei

in- vice, as at present. ily Under an agreement with If, the Department of Lands and he Survey information will be ’i- available from that department's ranger stationed at ve . Springs Junction, as well as e-, from the Forest Service inar formation centre at Reefton th and that proposed for the he Boyle. to Areas along Palmers Road between the Upper : Grey, is- Robinson .and Blue Grey ct Rivers are protection forest, d- subdivided into two recrea>r- tional zonings.

The first is the area northi west of Palmers Road from I the Brown Grey River catch- ; ment to the junction of the Robinson Riven It is zoned “remote experience” and, as ; such, no development is intended within this zone. ' The second area is southeast of Palmers Road between the Blue Grey and Robinson Rivers; It is zoned “natural environment.” This, is largely an area of protection forest used for recreational hunting and

tramping, with an existing legacy of huts and tracks from earlier animal control operations. Some further development may occur where considered necessary, and on the advice of the advisory committee. At present this area is covered by the ill-fated draft North Westland Regional Management Plan — which the Forest Service has delayed publishing so that it can be redrafted — and a further management plan is being prepared covering all aspects of park management. The plan will be released by the Forest Service for public comment.