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Forest Lands Plan submission

On the 18th of March 2005, the Trust submitted to the Greater Wellington Regional Council's Draft Forest Lands Plan: Future Water Catchments, seeking changes to the plan to facilitate future access for the Rimutaka Incline Railway. In 2002 the Landcare Committee had resolved that 'Implications of access for the Railway's proposal will be considered during the development of the Forest Lands Management Plan.' (Report 02.801 'Minutes of Landcare Meeting 19 November 2002).

A Meeting of the Parks and Forests Hearing Committee was held on Friday, 18 March 2005 at Wellington City Council Chambers to hear verbal submissions in support of written submissions to the Draft Regional Forest Lands Plan: Future Water Collection Areas Management Plan.

In considering the submission, "Councillors noted that the policies as outlined in the draft plan did not preclude the restoration of a heritage railway" (Report of the Meeting of the Parks and Forests Hearing Committee 05.127), and the activity (the railway) should remain a 'restricted' activity, an approach that was endorsed by the Department of Conservation (Report of the Meeting of the Parks and Forests Hearing Committee 05.197).

Motorised recreation was defined in the Plan, specifically excluding trains from that definition, which makes it clear that the proposal to reinstate a heritage railway in the Pakuratahi Forest should not be considered as "Motorised recreation".

DOC comments

Mr Jeff Flavell of Department of Conservation commented that "DOC decided to appear after having read the submissions from other submitters and in particular, the current provisions of the Management Plan relating to the restoration of a heritage railway as the railway proposal. He noted that DOC was a key player in this issue as the Fell engines would operate on what is now DOC land and that DOC supported the Management Plan as written."

Regional Forest Lands Plan adpoted

The Regional Forest Lands Plan: Future Water Collection Areas Management Plan was adopted by the Policy, Finance and Strategy Committee meeting held on 17 May 2005.

A pre-publication version of the final plan may be viewed at Attachment 2 to Report 05.197 (813kB).

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