Allocation of land nearly finalised

Press, 3 December 1987, Page 4

Allocation of land nearly finalised

OLIVER RIDDELL

By

in Wellington The allocation of West Coast Crown lands between the State-Owned Enterprises and the Department of Conservation is close to being finalised. This allocation process was begun last June and has involved an exhaustive study of more than 3000 parcels of Crown land. Public submissions were called, the largest being from the Public Lands Coalition, but because of the particular needs of the West Coast on extra stage has been added to the allocation process. Because of the large distance between com-

munities on the West Coast, those involved in the allocation process have found it hard to ensure that everyone there had a chance to examine the maps showing the land allocations. The Associate Minister for the Environment, Mr Woollastbn, said a process had not been found to allow further consultation. The West Coast United Council had asked the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Palmer, that the requirements of Approved Section One of the West Coast Regional Planning Scheme be met in the Crown land allocation process. Mr Woollaston said last year’s decision on the allocation of State forests

on the West Coast north of the Cook River would riot be reconsidered. There was at present a separate consultation on allocating State forests in Westland, south of the Cook River, so the extended procedures would focus solely on Crown lands on the West Coast other than State forests. Maps, schedules and information on allocation criteria would be available for inspection at 14 West Coast centres during the first week of December, he said. Comments would be collated by the West Coast United Council and forwarded to the Deputy Prime Minister by December 18. .