Government calms access fears

The Government may appoint a committee to look further into land access, says Associate Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor.

It could also allow farmers to block access to their land once access to waterways was opened up if there was a good reason, he said.

West Coast farmers met in Greymouth on Monday over plans to open access to named waterways.

Yesterday Mr O'Connor, who comes from a Buller farming family, said he could "absolutely" offer assurances to the sector.

Work on opening up access for recreational users was at an early stage, and it was a complex process.

The Government wanted to protect property rights, and health and safety and trespass laws would be enhanced, where necessary, he said.

"There has been for over 100 years a general expectation of access to waterways through what we have called the Queen's Chain," Mr O'Connor said.

"Investigations into it have identified problems with that moving into the future."

Farmers were exaggerating the issue, he said, and knew very well there would be consultation, which could include the appointment of a Government committee, before a final decision.

But Dairy Farmers of New Zealand vice-chairman Frank Brenmuhl said Mr O'Connor had offered no real guarantees the Government was seriously considering farmers' concerns.

- NZPA