West Coast study recommends charges to access to conservation estate be considered
Thursday, 22 September 2016
Visitors could be charged for access to attractions on Department of Conservation (DOC) land as a way of boosting the economy, a new study suggests.
A Government study into how the West Coast economy can be boosted has recommended consideration be given to charging for access to attractions on the conservation estate.
The Tai Poutini West Coast Growth Study, released on Tuesday, was commissioned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Ministry for Primary Industries as part of the Regional Growth Programme.
It said work was under way into the potential to charge for car parking at key conservation attractions.
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'We consider that additional options need to be assessed, for example, to cater for cycle trails where car park charges may not be possible such as permits. In our view, arguments against user charges do not stack up.'
The study said user charges were needed for the West Coast because of the substantial area of land that was conservation estate and the small local funding base.
Some community groups could be exempt from charges, it said.
Tourism was a 'key opportunity' for economic development on the West Coast but a new mix of funding options, such as charging visitors for experiences on conservation land, was needed.
Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) chief executive Chris Roberts said the tourism industry was keen to have a debate on user charges for access to national parks.
'This is not about stopping the 'free and unfettered access' that is enshrined in the Conservation Act, but providing the Department of Conservation with the tools to collect revenue to maintain and enhance the facilities it provides,' he said.
There had been much discussion recently about taxing visitors more heavily to fund infrastructure demands created by the industry's growth. The industry had set an ambitious goal of growing total tourism revenue to $41 billion a year.
Roberts said international visitors already paid their way through GST (almost $930 million a year) and other levies.
'There are a range of possible solutions to specific funding issues and in TIA's view, the introduction of more user charges for conservation land are well worth exploring.'
User charges could support improved maintenance, facilities and experiences at conservation estate attractions.
The report said international experience showed people were willing to pay if it led to better experiences.
West Coast Alpine Club president Jason Blair said the club wanted improved access to the region's backcountry.
'User-pays would seem to put barriers in place. That said, anything that can improve and increase DOC's resources to manage its assets is a good thing. It's a catch 22. We support the development of new infrastructure like huts and tracks and that money has to come from somewhere,' he said.
He said people already paid to experience the country's great walks by booking huts, which cost about $40 a night.
'It concerns us that families who want to enjoy the great walks and spend a few nights in huts would find it cost prohibitive. It's important that New Zealanders get to enjoy what is a public asset without undue financial barriers.
'Then again, there are international user-pays models that appear to work. We'd like to know more detail about how it would be implemented,' he said.
An economic action plan for the West Coast, informed by the Tai Poutini West Coast Regional Growth Study, will be released in early 2017.