Mount White conservation plan approved

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 2

Mount White conservation plan approved

Wellington reporter Development of parts of Mount White station near Cass has moved a step closer with National Water and Soil Conservation Authority approval of an eightyear soil and water conservation plan. Mount White has been the focus of a dispute between conservation groups and high-country runholders about the future of some South Island high-country land. The authority will advise the North Canterbury Catchment Board that the proposed plan, estimated to cost $305,150, meets technical and policy requirements for a total grant of $209,700. The Government grant has been calculated under policy that destocking works qualify for a 70 per cent grant arid on-site works for a 60 per cent grant. The authority also approved the initial five-year programme for Mount White station at an estimated total cost of $246,860. The $170,800 grant will be subject to the destocking of 12,361 ha of class VIII and severely eroded class VVIe land and the surrender of 8119 ha of that behind the retirement fences within the Candlestocks and Peveril blocks. Other conditions are: The right of some cattleonly grazing of the class IVVI land included behind the retirement fences on a block-limitation basis, to be

agreed to jointly by the catchment board, the Lands and Survey Department, and the runholder. The cattle grazing behind the retirement fences being subject to a joint annual review by the parties concerned, to monitor the effect of such grazing on the vegetation. The requirement that the wind erosion control grant be applied only to arable soils on class 11-VI land only:

A land improvement agreement being entered into and registered against the title to secure completion of the work and its adequate maintenance. The remaining work after the first five-year _ programme being submitted to the authority for approval.