Gulf a priority despite budget cuts

BY DIANA WORTHY

The Department of Conservation is vowing government cuts in conservation funding will not touch the Gulf even though the affects will be felt elsewhere.

DOC spokesman Rory Newsam says plans to expand marine parks have been put on hold and pest control reduced.

He says it is in order to make savings of $54 million over the next four years, following this year's budget.

Mr Newsam says there have been a number of forums to discuss marine protection areas but they should not be confused with the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Forum - which is a separate entity.

"The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Forum is a priority for the conservancy department. There is a very strong push for that approach. And the Gulf has a higher priority for pest control," he says.

Meanwhile, the Waiheke Community Board is due to discuss the Auckland City Council city development committee's recent resolutions about a distinct identity for the marine park.

This month the committee voted to support it in principle but exclude council-owned land.

It means council's site at Matiatia is left out of the marine park.

Hauraki Gulf Islands' councillor Denise Roche says the site has been land-banked anyway and cannot be identified as a reserve.

"What you have to do to be included in the park is to make sure your reserves are managed as part of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act. It's about increasing the visitor experience and increasing visibility of the marine park."

But she says the committee's resolutions do not go far enough by not considering the inclusion of other public reserve land within the park.

Ms Roche claims council is worried the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act might be strengthened if it commits too much.

"It's a very risk-averse stance," she says.

A park identity report written for the committee by council planning officer Megan Tyler is now due to be considered by the community board.

It says all reserves are included in the Act but Ms Roche says that is untrue.

"We've had the Act for 10 years and that's not what happens. You have to agree they will be identified as part of the park."

She says she told the committee that views of community boards about extending tourism and eco-tourism had not been taken into account.

And she criticises council as having a "pick and mix" approach.

"It's OK to allocate a contract for 10 years but it's not OK to allocate some of the reserves - too risky," she says.

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