Great article and analysis Melanie. Thank you. I'm wondering how the proposed new section 6(ea) and new economic development function affects other conservation legislation such as the National Park and Reserves Acts, given its reference to "other enactments" ie “to recognise the economic opportunities that arise from the use and development of land and other resources managed by the Department, and to enable this use and development to the greatest extent practicable under the principal Act and other enactments.”
The retrospective paper from DoC that you linked to notes that tourism applications are likely to be a major beneficiary so potentially the clause would allow significantly more tourism development in national parks.
Thanks for your comment and feedback Eugenie. My understanding is that the "enable development to the greatest extent possible" direction applies to all public conservation land, as section 6E is about DOC's core functions.
And the similarly worded sections of the Conservation Amendment Bill that guide policy and planning will also of course cover all conservation land, as the separate general policy for national parks will no longer be separate.
However, the level of development may be guided by the policy and plans, depending on the land classification. So there may be less impact on national parks than other places, but that still leaves a huge gap between what we have now and what would be allowed / encouraged / facilitated under the proposed law. Interested in your thoughts!
Great article and analysis Melanie. Thank you. I'm wondering how the proposed new section 6(ea) and new economic development function affects other conservation legislation such as the National Park and Reserves Acts, given its reference to "other enactments" ie “to recognise the economic opportunities that arise from the use and development of land and other resources managed by the Department, and to enable this use and development to the greatest extent practicable under the principal Act and other enactments.”
The retrospective paper from DoC that you linked to notes that tourism applications are likely to be a major beneficiary so potentially the clause would allow significantly more tourism development in national parks.
Thanks for your comment and feedback Eugenie. My understanding is that the "enable development to the greatest extent possible" direction applies to all public conservation land, as section 6E is about DOC's core functions.
And the similarly worded sections of the Conservation Amendment Bill that guide policy and planning will also of course cover all conservation land, as the separate general policy for national parks will no longer be separate.
However, the level of development may be guided by the policy and plans, depending on the land classification. So there may be less impact on national parks than other places, but that still leaves a huge gap between what we have now and what would be allowed / encouraged / facilitated under the proposed law. Interested in your thoughts!