Fears lakefronts will be exploited

Pristine high-country lakefront land is back in the sights of developers after changes to the tenure-review process.

The Government yesterday reversed a Labour Party policy that had removed pastoral leasehold properties on lake shores from tenure review.

The tenure-review process puts some former Crown-owned leases into private ownership.

Agriculture Minister David Carter and Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson said the change struck "a balance between economic use and environmental and cultural values".

Lakeside leases would now be considered on an individual basis and significant values would be safeguarded by district plans, the Resource Management Act and covenants.

Carter said last night it was a matter for local government to determine. "You can never say there will not be any subdivisions, but saying there's a chance of intensive lakefront subdivisions is just a nonsense."

Concerns had been voiced about the "Wanaka-isation" of Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki through subdivision.

Around Lake Wanaka, farmers made huge profits from selling newly freehold land to developers, with lake views obscured by new housing.

Two years ago, then lands minister David Parker withdrew more than 40 lakeside leases from tenure review, angering farmers.

Parker said yesterday the reversal was "terrible".

A change had been needed around Wakatipu, Wanaka, Tekapo, Ohau and Pukaki, he said. "These are used to sell our tourism.

"It was the best protection of all against inappropriate subdivision. Most [district] plans don't have the proper rules to deal with subdivision."

Forest & Bird general manager Mike Britton said that covenants were not enough to protect lakefronts.

"They are a civil agreement. They are really good for a landowner who wants to protect a patch of bush on a property, but here you are looking at a large area of land and the only protection being covenants is just ridiculous."

Lincoln University tenure-review expert Ann Brower said the move was "shocking in some ways, but not surprising".

The change would be slow to take effect but the effects would be lasting.

"It is a clear victory of private self-interest over public interest."

- © Fairfax NZ News