Rakaia Island land offered for lease

Press, 8 March 1982, Page 13

Rakaia Island land offered for lease

An area of 1253 ha on Rakaia Island will be offered for lease by the North Canterbury Catchment Board.

The board approved the conditions of the , loan on Friday in spite of protests by Mr T. N. D. Anderson that the loan was being ‘pushed through too fast.” Mr Anderson said that more thought and information were needed before a decision could be made. Effects on wildlife needed study. “I believe there are other values here that should be protected and it is the board’s responsibility’ to do so,” he said.

Dr B. P. J. Molloy said he sympathised with Mr Anderson’s request for more information but said the matter had been covered fully at committee level. Much additional information had been brought up and considered by the administration committee.

The existing lease is for 1757 ha, but this will be reduced to 1253 ha. The 21-year lease will start from May 1 and will have a perpetual right of renewal. The initial rent will be $12,700 a year. A condition of the lease will be that no development will be allowed in a block of 102 ha containing trees and plants of “botanical significance.”

Mr D. D. Webster said that a separate lease and rental were justified for the 102 ha block, making it easier to apply a management plan. He favoured the matter’s being referred back to the administration committee for comment.

Other board members felt that it would be a waste of time for the committee to discuss the proposal.

Mr R. D. Gould said the surveying involved in a separate lease would be a "monstrous job."

Swamp drainage The board has granted a Hanmer Valley farmer. Mr J. W. Wilson, permission to drain 40ha' of swampland on his property into the Percival River. The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society had objected to the proposal but its objection was not sustained because the board believed the area to be drained was of limited wildlife habitat value. The board will also ask the Queen Elizabeth II Trust to investigate wetlands in the Hanmer Springs area because of their “possible value." Kainga development Board representatives will meet Kainga residents on March 17 to discuss options for the development of the Kainga settlement.