Commissioner advised to decline trail consents bid

Two resource consent applications from the Fiordland Trails Trust for its Lake 2 Lake Te Anau to Manapouri Multi Use Trail will be heard in Te Anau this month.

The applications will be considered by an independent commissioner but an Environment Southland staff report for the hearing – prepared by consultant consents officer Sonia Nichol – recommends the consents be declined.

The trust is applying to divert surface water and groundwater, and to modify a wetland associated with the installation of a third culvert at leg six of the trail. It is also seeking retrospective consent for wetland modification to enable construction of 35 metres of the trail, the placement and use of two culverts, and the use of leg six of the trail.

The hearing was meant to be held in September of last year, but was postponed.

Since then, the trust has submitted a revised application for an additional culvert, following a review by a senior water resources engineer.

The application was publicly notified on December 4, 2019, and two submissions on the application were received – one in support and one in opposition.

Environment Southland issued an abatement notice in 2018 regarding the ‘‘unauthorised’’ installation of 35 metres of trail and culverts on the wetland located along the cycle trail.

The trust – the driving force behind the Lake 2 Lake trail – later applied for retrospective consent to modify the wetland to enable construction of the small section of trail and two culverts.

The hearing will be held at the Distinction Hotel Te Anau on March 30.