Both Ernslaw One and DOC have worked in partnership, undertaking site visits, desktop reviews and aerial confirmation to agree on where the boundaries should lie. Gisborne/Whakatane Area Manager, Andy Bassett said “We are committed to working wilth all affected forestry companies in the region to rectify these issues. There are major benefits for us both by removing red tape and in turn we will be giving written consent to Ernslaw One that will not see us involved in these resource consenting processes anymore.”

 Ernslaw One spokesperson Richard Heikell said “consideration of DOC as an affected party for Resource Consent applications will now focus on the relevant and important areas of ecological advice and remove the time consuming issue of boundary clarification. We are pleased with the willingness of DOC to progress this work and look forward to working with the Department in the future with this new cooperative approach as the need arises.”

 The review will see cost savings for Ernslaw One enabling them to undertake harvesting and replanting without the need to consult the Department on each and every block. Cost savings will also be realised for DOC allowing for focus on the most important of conservation work in our region. The Gisborne/Whakatane Area Office assesses at least 15 resource consent applications from forestry companies throughout the year with these types of discrepancies. Mr Bassett said today the review of these PMA’s will clear the way for economic prosperity of forestry companies in the region.

 ENDS

 For further information, contact Awhina White, Programme Manager (Community Relations), Gisborne Whakatane Area Office, Department of Conservation, phone: (06) 869 0465, (027) 4918805.