River rafting under negotiation
A Mataura entrepreneur is proposing to start a commercial river rafting operation on the Mataura River.
Phillip Joostens’ application for resource consent crossed two territorial authorities and was lodged with the Gore District Council and the Southland District Council early this year.
Since then, an independent consultant had been assessing the application, Gore District Council planning manager Dean Balkin said.
‘‘There has been a lot of to-ing and fro-ing to get some details.’’
It is proposed that the operation would traverse the Mataura River between the Nokomai headwaters to the north and the lower reaches, near Wyndham, to the south.
Three separate excursions were proposed from the Gore District base, two of them to go out several times a day, two to five days per week, with the other aimed at half-day trips for tourists.
Three rafts would be capable of carrying six clients and one guide each, and would assemble at the Mataura carpark and launch from various points, such as the Otamita, Monaghans beaches, with various camps and exit points proposed along the river, depending on the excursion.
Full day or overnight excursions from Mataura to Wyndham, Lumsden to Dipton and Waiparu to Wendon were also proposed.
In his application, Joostens states that the rafting business would provide ‘‘another recreational opportunity on the Mataura River that is not currently available’’ and add additional value for tourists already in the lower South Island.
It would also generate employment and provide opportunities for hospitality operators, he says.
Joostens, who held a New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals permit and a resource consent from Environment Southland, also proposed to offer gold prospecting during the day excursions.
The business would operate from his property at Mataura.
On Friday, he declined to make any further comment about the proposal.
Supporting documents with the application state that it would operate on the Mataura River and adjacent Crown-owned or controlled land. The land east of the river is owned by Nokomai Station and administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC) at East Dome Scenic Reserve extending to Glenlappa Station. The land to the west is owned by Nokomai Station and Cattle Flat Station.
Various stakeholders had already been consulted, including Te Ao Marama Inc and Nga¯i Tahu Te Ao Marama Inc, which had given written approval, with Environment Southland asking that the applicant consult with Jet Boating New Zealand, which gave approval.
Fish & Game New Zealand’s Southland region was also consulted.
However, although the Southland branch council approved the application in principle at a February meeting, it was with the exclusion of sections in the upper Mataura River (Nokomai to Cattle Flat) and upper Wakaia River (Waiparu to Wendon) because of concerns about possible conflicts with anglers and hunters.
DOC was generally unopposed to the proposed activity but requested further information on any potential impact on black-billed gulls and/or black-fronted terns.
Matters under discussion at the moment included deciding whether aspects of the proposal would be subject to public notification, particularly the ones within Southland District Council’s jurisdiction, Balkin said.
Both councils were focused on ‘‘getting it right’’ with the best outcome for the river and everyone concerned, he said.
There was no time frame on bringing the proposal to the council for a decision.