Talks on future of Westland forests promised

Press, 24 February 1987, Page 5

Talks on future of Westland forests promised

Greymouth reporter The Secretary for the Environment, Dr Roger Blakeley, has promised a discussion between all the groups concerned until a solution is found for the future of South Westland forests, south of the Cook River.

The offer came when he was speaking at the closing of a three-day South Westland evaluation programme forum in Hokitika.

He said that his working party would evaluate the conservation and development needs for South Westland and make a recommendation to the Government by June 30. Dr Blakeley said that there was more time to ensure full consultation this time than when the party made recommendations on North Westland forests last year. The resource and opportunities research papers presented to the Hokitika forum would be-

come a background to help the party deliberate. It would speak with the people and groups affected, and would try to identify the policy options for resource strategy. These would be contained in a discussion document which would be open to public submissions for two months, Dr Blakeley said. It had been suggested that the party could hold public meetings at Harihari, Whataroa, Fox Glacier, and Haast to meet people in their own areas. Dr Blakeley will chair the working party which will include Mr Guy Salmon of the Joint Campaign on Native Forests; Dr Alan Edmonds, of the Conservation Department; Mr David Hilliard, of the Forestry Corporation; Mr Lionel Gillions, of the West Coast Sawmillers Association; and Mr David Stapleton, chief executive officer of the West Coast United Council.