Group
Backs Reserve Idea
By Steve
Hepburn
This
article was originally published in the Otago Daily Times 16 May
2005
Conservationists
point to public demand
The
South
| The
Otago Conservation Board has thrown its weight behind the
proposed Nugget Point marine reserve.
The
board met at the Uenuku marae in Moeraki last week. Chairman
Fergus Sutherland said the board supported a continuation
of the process to set up the marine reserve.
He
said given the strong support from around the country and
from the University of Otago marine science department,
the board felt the marine reserve was a good idea.
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The board also supported
the idea of a marine guardians group, but Mr Sutherland said that
group should have the eventual goal of delivering a marine reserve.
The idea of a southeast
coast guardians group had been put forward to protect the resources
of the coastline and replace the marine reserve idea.
The Department of Conservation
was expected to lodge a formal application for the reserve later
this month.
"We think there is strong
public opinion around the country to support the reserve, certainly
from the scientific and conservation community," Mr Sutherland
said.
However, he agreed there
was opposition to the reserve.
"We're certainly not
dropping the idea. There has been vocal opposition to the reserve
but a lot of people locally had not had their chance to respond."
Public access: The board
also raised the issue of access to the nearby Moeraki Boulders
but made no recommendation.
The board visited the
boulders and Mr Sutherland said it was told the public toilets
were no longer in working order.
Mr Sutherland said although
there was concern about the state of the toilets, the board decided
there were other sites in Otago which had a higher priority.
The board raised concerns
about the signs and access to the boulders through a nearby commercial
business but offered no resolution.
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