Application by Trees Adventure Holdings PTY Limited

Introduction

Have your say on an application by Trees Adventure Holdings PTY Limited for a lease and licence in the Hamner area. Submissions closed 16 June 2023 at 5 pm.

This application is notified under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987. The Minister of Conservation has received an application for a lease and licence concession from:

Applicant: Trees Adventure Holdings PTY Limited
Location of proposed activity: Conservation Area Hanmer Field Base and Picnic Area
Map reference: Field station: 42.5186°S, 172.8413°E. Approximate location of proposed ropes course: 42.5133°S, 172.8382°E
Summary of proposal: The Treetops Adventure Group is applying for a licence to operate a high ropes course within existing exotic forest and an associated lease for the unused Hamner Field Base. The proposed term is 21 years.

Concession applied for: A licence for the ropes course activity and a lease for the vacant DOC field office.

All structures will be removable and rely on the maintenance of the health of the trees used. In the experience of the applicant, there is no evidence remaining of a ropes course after one or two years after the course is removed.

Existing recreational uses of the setting can continue and exclusive occupation of the forest area is not required.

The operation will also rely on a lease of the vacant DOC Field Office located in the south of the reserve. This will be used as a visitor greeting and ticketing centre with limited retail sales.

The applicant understands that the Field Office is in poor condition and currently cannot be used by DOC or the public. The applicant is willing to invest in the restoration of the building to code.

Application documents:

How to make a submission

Submissions closed on Friday 16 June 2023 at 5 pm.

Once submitted, submitters' information is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and may be released under that Act.  If you wish to keep any part of your submission confidential, you need to state this in writing when making your submission.

What happens next

After submissions close:

  1. DOC will analyse and consider all submissions and comments on the application.
  2. A hearing will be held if there have been requests to be heard by the Director-General. If you have expressed an interest in presenting your submission at a hearing, you will be contacted by DOC regarding this.
  3. DOC will analyse and consider information raised at the hearing if a hearing occurred.
  4. DOC will make a recommendation to the Minister of Conservation.
  5. The Minister of Conservation will make a decision on the application.

Hearing details

A hearing has not been requested and no public submissions have been received. A determination has not been made yet regarding the suitability of this proposed concession.

DOC comment regarding publicly notified applications

The Minister of Conservation has made no determination regarding the suitability of this proposed concession on public conservation land. This public notification should not be interpreted as an intention on the part of the Minister of Conservation to grant the proposed concession.  

Contact

If you have any questions about the application or the submission process you can email maclark@doc.govt.nz

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