Beeman Base at cross roads

The future of 60-year-old weather station Beeman Base, on remote Campbell Island, is now under review.

Neglected Campbell Island seems to me like New Zealand's planet Pluto.

The UNESCO World Heritage site, 700km south of Invercargill, gets little credit for providing a profitable bulge in our exclusive economic zone.

Pristine flora and fauna delight eco-tourists, as do occasionally magnificent views of the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights).

But the island's history is disappearing. Sealer hut sites, farm buildings, coast watcher accommodation and a whaler base are well overgrown and there's talk of demolishing the weather station.

Built by the MetService in 1956, Beeman Base once accommodated 20 staff, but usefulness waned following automation in 1998.

Buildings remain sound and scientific parties still camp there but the MetService has stripped out power, plumbing and hot water and partially demolished the wharf.

MetService has informed DoC that, if wishing to preserve the base long-term, it must assume ownership.

The two agencies have agreed to remove unwanted buildings and equipment, with Navy ships providing transportation. The balloon shed and wharf having been demolished and rubbish removed. More buildings are up for removal, an incremental process has begun could see the entire base go.

Outgoing DoC conservation services manager (Southern Islands), Brent Beaven, said DoC has made no decision on the future of the base.

"Lots of ideas have been raised, from total demolition through to total protection and restoration."

Ironically, this sub-Antarctic base is facing the chop just as the Sir Peter Blake Trust seeks to establish another (on Auckland Island), 300 km to the north west.

Blake Station

When contacted last week, Sir Peter Blake Trust spokesperson Sally Paterson was unaware of discussions on the future of Beeman Base and noone had approached them on the issue.

"Auckland and Campbell Islands are very different eco systems as scientists who have worked down there understand," says Ms Paterson.

"The Trust is not looking to establish its own base on Auckland Island, it would be a collaborative research station for New Zealand. In the last couple of years we have been working with leading New Zealand Science, research and conservation organisations to establish the need and feasibility of a research station of this type. We are still working through this process but remain excited about the opportunities for New Zealand and particularly involving young New Zealanders in these exciting environmental leadership plans."

The proposed Blake Station would consist of a new floating jetty at the head of Smiths Harbour; two accommodation blocks for long-term stays; one block for short-term stays of up to 14 people; a block for two wet labs and a boat shed.

Perhaps optimistically, the Blake people have put the cost of their proposed base at Smith's Harbour at $3 million.

Detractors claim any staff at the station would be likely be confined to just one part of Auckland Island, unless provided with its own ocean-going boat or helicopter.

While visiting Auckland Island with the Navy earlier this year, old hands who'd worked and done research in the sub-Antarctic for many years, told me moving around the Auckland Island in small boats carried too much risk, while walking across it is problematic, due to the dense rata forest and rugged terrain.

If these assertions - by experienced DoC staff and contractors who work for DoC - are valid, then the Blake people would do well to consider using Beeman Base, as well as, or perhaps even instead of, existing plans.

Campbell, though far smaller and possibly less interesting to them, would appear to have two advantages.

Firstly, Beeman Base is in the long fjord of Perseverance Harbour, which provides fairly sheltered boat access to much of Campbell Island.

Secondly, though tussock and dracophyllum scrub on Campbell makes getting around the island difficult, mobility on Auckland Island is worse again.

Tourism could expand

The Blake people are entitled to aim for their preferred location for a base in the sub-Antarctic, without constraint by the possible availability of an unwanted one.

In any case, at this point with the base in such a run down state it will demand concerted political pressure, rather than merely enthusiasm from one quarter, to change the destiny of Beeman Base.

But that's what the friends of Beeman Base are hoping for.

Emails have been flying backward and forward over the last two weeks, as former MetService employees and others share concern over the possible loss of the historic weather station.

It's not merely an urge to preserve history that motivates them.

"During the pre-satellite era, Campbell Island used to give all New Zealand airports early weather warnings but now this remote and undeveloped location puts the island in the front row seat for measuring climate change," points out Campbell Island historian Norm Judd.

Meanwhile, Brent Beaven's discussion document on the base seems to speak for some within DoC who are keen to open the door to additional eco-tourism.

Parts of the base are redundant and need to be removed, says Beaven, but much is of historic importance and worthy of protection.

He urges dialogue with universities and the Blake Trust, both of which he feels may be interested in the base as a venue for science.

Then what he says about eco-tourism seems astonishing.

Beaven, though he has now left DoC for a new role in the Prime Minister's office, leaves the door open to change Campbell Island's Conservation Management Strategy, so that paying tourists could stay at the base.

He raises the possibility of partnerships with "concessionaires or interested businesses".

This suggestion, even in a discussion document penned by a former DoC boss, seems revolutionary.

Till now DoC has rigidly regulated tourists numbers visiting its sub-Antarctic islands, mainly confining them to a few hardened landing sites and narrow walkways.

Campbell hero's view

Biologist Rodney Russ is one of the heroes of Campbell Island.

Instrumental in saving the island's flightless teal, Russ went on to begin a global eco-tourism company.

He went to the island in the summer of 1974/75, when the former "Beeman Metrological Base" was in full swing and a hive of activity.

The Lands and Survey Department (forerunner to the DoC) had just built the "Annex", an extension to accommodate researchers and scientists.

It was during this expedition Russ rediscovered the teal on Dent Island, a small and rugged island off Campbell. It had long been presumed extinct.

Russ and a companion captured some of birds and returned them to New Zealand, where a captive breeding program was begin. The teal was reintroduced after DoC eradicated sheep, cats and rats from the island.

It now thrives, alongside the Campbell Island snipe, which re-established itself about the same time.

"My passion for the sub-Antarctic Islands was fuelled by this expedition and a previous one (in 1972/73) to the Auckland Islands," he says.

"In 1989 I started offering tourist expeditions to the sub-Antarctica Islands because I felt it was really important that people have the opportunity to see and share in the excitement, beauty and importance of these Islands.

World class facility

"Advocacy was then underrated as a conservation tool. Today it is increasingly recognised as an integral part of any conservation strategy. Today we run about seven to eight expeditions a year that visit these islands.

"Over the years I have watched Beeman Base slowly succumb to the ravages of the weather and lack of maintenance and it saddens me.

It would make the perfect Southern Ocean Field Station, attracting students from universities all around the world. New Zealand could take its rightful place as a world leader in southern ocean marine and terrestrial science.

"It seems inconceivable at a time when the world is waking up to the importance of the Southern Ocean for the wellbeing of the globe (and all its inhabitants) that we as a country with responsibilities for a significant portion of it aren't being proactive and creative, exploring ways in which we can take our responsibilities seriously.

"It would not take a lot of money (it could be self-funding) to make Campbell Island into a world class facility. No other country in the world is so well positioned to do it, the basic infra-structure is there it just needs leaders with vision and courage.

"Not since the 1970's when the University of Canterbury maintained a field station on Snares Islands have students had the opportunity to study the unique eco systems of the Sub Antarctic.

"We owe it to the next generation of students (and to the world) to give them the opportunity to study and learn in this environment. I always have and still do believe that the Metrological Base on Campbell should be used for this purpose."