Field inspections will begin on the West Coast this winter to decide if significant natural areas (SNAs) spotted by researchers using maps, are in fact worth protecting.
Landowners who try to pre-empt the SNA designation by clearing the land now could find themselves in breach of the existing rules (File image).
Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal
The West Coast Regional Council says a desktop study of potential SNAs should be complete by the end of June, and the affected landowners will then be asked if an ecologist can undertake an on-site assessment.
If the landowner refuses, the site will automatically be assumed to be an SNA and protected under new rules now being developed by the Tai o Poutini Plan Committee in accordance with the Resource Management Act.
Tourist attractions or industrial sites? The future rules for West Coast ports have come under close scrutiny this week from the Tai o Poutini Plan Committee.
Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal
Mayors, chairs, councillors and iwi are gradually working their way through every section of the Westland, Grey and Buller district plans, to come up with a revised document that rolls them into one.
The committee this week tackled performance standards for ports at Westport and Greymouth - and protecting the rights of port users emerged as their top priority.
Principal planner Lois Easton presented an update on the technical work her team had done to define port zones and draft rules for their operation.