Shelved
Nugget Point plan costed
By Joseph
Beaumont
2 May
2006
This
article was originally published in the Southland Times on 2
May 2006
The
Department of Conservation spent more than $220,000 on its latest
proposal for a marine reserve at Nugget Point, recently released
figures show.
The proposal
cost taxpayers $220,671.98, with $122,386.72 spent on wages
and salaries and $49,869.79 on consultants.
However,
the reserve application did not go ahead, as the department
had not lodged it by the time the Government's new marine protection
policy came into force in January.
The department's
latest proposal was revived in mid-2004, about 12 years after
its first bid for a Nuggets reserve was abandoned.
Both proposals
met sustained opposition from recreational and commercial fishermen
but were strongly supported by scientists and conservationists.
Other money
spent on the second proposal included $15,979.69 on printing
and publishing, $8616.36 on computer leasing, $8275.12 on vehicle
expenses and $4675.96 on domestic travel.
Lesser expenses
included office supplies ($3429.25), accommodation ($2508.95),
and holding meetings and providing catering ($1805.09).
Under the
new policy, announced by Conservation Minister Chris Carter
and Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton, the entire New Zealand
coastline will be surveyed to establish a representative network
of marine protected areas around the country.
Regional
forums, made up of users, scientists, iwi and relevant agencies,
will then consider what protection is needed for a given area
– including any proposed marine reserve – before
it is considered by the ministers.
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