Feedback on the proposed National Conservation Policy Statement

^{Image source: Tonia Kraakman, Unsplash}

The Commissioner has provided feedback to the Department of Conservation regarding their consultation on proposed content for a National Conservation Policy Statement.

These proposals are principally concerned with streamlining the conservation planning system and the process used to grant concessions. The Commissioner broadly supports many of these changes, provided that they do not infringe upon the hierarchy embedded in the Conservation Act 1987: that recreation and tourism are to be accommodated only to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the conservation purposes for which the land is held.

However, the Commissioner raises concerns with the proposal to reduce the role of the Conservation Authority and conservation boards in the development of conservation planning documents. He argues the consultation document is unclear on why it is necessary to remove the layer of independence these institutions offer.

“If the Government’s objective is to streamline the planning process, there is a good argument that rationalising the number of plans and standardising their contents would suffice.”

The Commissioner also questions the proposal to remove limits on commercial activity from place-specific planning documents. At present, these serve at least two purposes. Firstly, they ensure community expectations about acceptable levels of noise and congestion at ‘their’ local park or reserve are not exceeded. Secondly, they establish the scarcity of supply that is necessary for the successful operation of competitive concession allocation (tenders, for example). The Commissioner is not convinced that the alternative limit-setting tools proposed in the consultation could serve both these purposes.