Thread: DOC WARO review submissions

Please have a read of this, and make a coherent submission to the appropriate people (email addresses in the link). Submissions are now extended til 16 JULY, not 30 June.

https://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved...ndations-2018/

Please note that the scope of the consultation is around the access dates in the concession documents, and around the classification of mainly-small new areas of PCL or land that was not previously classified. These areas can be found on the maps at the link, outlined in black. There are also some changes to previously classified areas which are proposed to be changed from open-closed or vice versa. You can submit on things outside the scope of this, but I think it's unlikely to produce any results.

My read of it, for the South Island only, is that there is one proposed increase in duration of closure periods - for WARO blocks in the Grey area, but it's not significant enough imo. There is no reduction in duration of roar closures anywhere as far as I can tell. I personally would suggest that closures from last weekend in March-last weekend in April, or 23 March - 9 April (different areas), are essentially meaningless, and these closures should be extended to include the entirety of March/April at least (and I submitted to this effect).

It appears that the majority of the new areas being classified, either as open or closed, are insignificant/small. Where they are being classified as open, it appears that it's usually because they're attached to a much larger area that is already open to WARO. Where they're classified as closed, it appears that it's usually because it's just an isolated small scenic reserve or similar. Unfortunately the wording and maps aren't entirely clear - e.g. Paparoa national park is proposed to be closed, but is shown as permitted on the maps still, so it's hard to gauge how large some of these areas are.

the main substantial changes to previously classified areas include:
-Proposing to close St James to WARO
-Proposing that all currently open areas in Nth Canterbury will have a roar closure period
-Proposing that roughly all of the Paparoas will be closed
-Proposing to open the currently closed part of Castle Hill CA/Torlesse
-Restricting Leatham/Branch to only a couple of months in winter (not sure what it is now - open?)
-Increased duration of roar closure periods for all WARO areas in Grey district



So it's not all bad - but please make sure that you make a positive submission supporting the good stuff and perhaps encouraging a greater duration for closure periods! It can't hurt to suggest that no additional areas be opened to WARO beyond those already proposed, and you may as well suggest that some others be restricted/closed. Remember that the WARO guys can and will be making submissions.