West Coast DoC boss still in dark over future budget

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

Warnings are being sounded over possible cuts to the Department of Conservation's (DOC) resources on the West Coast.

Almost 15% of the region's land area is administered and staffed in some way by DOC.

The West Coast region has key national visitor sites like Franz Josef Glacier and Punakaiki, dozens of other recreational and heritage visitor sites, and five National Parks either within the region or reaching across its boundaries.

Baseline operating expenditure funding for the Western South Island region for the current financial year is $11.675 million.

West Coast Poutini Conservation Board member Dr Barry Wards, a former Forest and Bird president, said the board should be advocating the department's cause to an incoming government that is looking for savings.

"I get the sense there is a lot of things that are going to come up that are going to cost."

He feared a compromise in the department's capacity for "holding the line" when the new Government was signalling a 6.5% cut to the Public Service.

"It's only going to get worse," Wards said.

Questions of "what might have to go" and whether the department was discussing "cutting back" needed to be aired. Therefore, the board might have a role to play advocate over funding, Wards said.

"From my position, I think this board has the responsibility to advocate for funds not to be cut," he added.

DOC Western South Island director Mark Davies said he could not comment if cost reductions in the department's budgets were even being considered at this early point.

"That is the work of the Government," he said.

He noted there would be a natural transition for the department with the new Government set up.

"We are in the process of adapting to a new Government and a new minister's direction."

That included the department now having three ministers to report to: Conservation, Hunting and Fishing, and Oceans and Fisheries.

The department would also be hosting the sectariate for the new Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Davies told the November 30 meeting.

He noted the transition in the change would be "a learning experience".

However the director-general of Conservation would be briefing the Government at a 'high level'.

"This is work that will go on between now and Christmas," Davies said.

Chairperson Mike Legge said a general discussion was already underway between conservation board chairs nationally about approaching the new minister, Tama Potaka.

"It hasn't gone very far yet. I think we need to get the measure of the minister," he said.

Davies said the board should "be patient" given the new administration was still being briefed to "get a clearer picture".

He expected the implications to become much clearer from February.