Walking trail’s wetland hearing postponed

A hearing planned in Te Anau yesterday to apply for retrospective consent to modify a wetland has been postponed.

The Fiordland Trails Trust had applied for retrospective consent for wetland modification and culverts on the Lake Te Anau to Lake Manapo¯uri cycle and walking trail.

However, the trust has now asked for the hearing to be rescheduled so it can make an application for an additional resource consent.

In addition to two culverts proposed as part of the application, it has applied for a third culvert to be installed to mitigate any effects on the flow of groundwater.

Environment Southland consents manager Michael Durand said the council would wait for the new application to be lodged, with the hearing likely to be within six months.

Despite 72 of 74 submitters wanting retrospective consent to be granted, Environment Southland consultant consents officer Sonya Nicol recommended the original application be declined.

She agreed the trail provided social, economic and recreational opportunities for Fiordland, but said the proposed Southland Water and Land Plan clearly stated that adverse effects of activities on wetlands should be avoided.

Her report indicated that the wetland area had been reduced due to the installation of a formed trail.

‘‘Even though the extent of wetland loss is relatively small, the residual adverse effects are more than minor,’’ it said. – Stuff