Joint sign-off on DoC land worries green groups

Gerry Brownlee. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand's most precious land is safe for now, but environmental groups worry that the Energy Minister could soon get a firmer grip on the conservation estate.

The Government has reneged on plans for possible mining on Schedule 4 land, but stuck with its intention to include Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee in signing off future ventures on conservation land.

At present only the Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson's signature is required for any activity on Department of Conservation land.

Under the proposal, if mining exploration went ahead in the West Coast and Northland, economic benefit would be given equal consideration to protecting the land.

It is a move which was projected to favour industry. The vast majority of mining companies and associated businesses supported the proposal.

"Minerals and biodiversity are held in trust by the Crown on behalf of us all. But the voice of half of us had thus far been discounted," said Minerals Industry Association chief Doug Gordon.

Environmental groups and the public overwhelmingly opposed joint approval.

In submissions to the mining discussion document, 96 per cent of respondents did not think it was appropriate on the grounds that it would increase the likelihood of mineral exploration on Crown land.

Environmental Defence Society chairman Gary Taylor said the joint sign-off was "unacceptable" and would require careful scrutiny at the select committee stage.

"We can rely on the present processes, and shouldn't lower the bar for access or resource consents.

"It is putting a strong minister into a process with a weaker minister, and we all know what happens then."

Environment Commissioner Jan Wright submitted that joint approval would undermine the distinction between the property rights of the owner of the land and the Crown as owner of the minerals.

Kate Wilkinson told the Herald that the minister's role was to ensure conservation was at the forefront when access was being considered.

"This doesn't change," she said.

Department of Conservation records showed that more than 90 per cent of applications by mining companies for access were granted.

Ms Wilkinson noted this, and said the amendment "would simply ensure that the economic perspective is accounted for in future decisions".

"It is sensible that the land-holding minister and the minister responsible for resources within the ground jointly authorise any mining application, so they can account for the full range of issues," she said.

Forest and Bird spokesman Kevin Hackwell said that when conservation and economic benefits were weighted against each other, the economic side would win every time.

Environmental groups said there was one consolation in the Government's announcement. Mining-related applications will now have to be publicly notified, meaning affected people and businesses' views would be taken into account when decisions were made.

This brought the mining industry's access in line with other industries.

The Government has been trying to streamline access to conservation land for more than a year.

A Cabinet paper from the Ministry of Economic Development said last year that the Minister of Energy's limited involvement in DoC decision-making had led to lost opportunities in accessing Crown-owned minerals.