Regional council says Fiordland moorings not consented

Wednesday, 15 June 2022

Environment Southland started an investigating after complaints were received about RealNZ’s moorings in Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound.

Regional council has laid charges against tourism company RealNZ
Council investigation reveals moorings in Fiordland were not consented
Charges relate to the Resource Management Act to be heard in the Queenstown District Court

Environment Southland has laid two charges against tourism company RealNZ about two of its moorings in Fiordland.

The regional council has completed its investigation into the complaints about two moorings in Harrison Cove, Fiordland owned by the company.

A council spokesperson said its investigation has found that the moorings currently in place are not consented.

“Due to the sensitive nature of the Fiordland environment and the importance of ensuring compliance with the Regional Coastal Plan, we have taken this breach of the Resource Management Act very seriously.”

In this case, two charges relating to the resource management act have been laid in the Queenstown District Court against RealNZ.”

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Any requirement to remove the moorings would be determined by the court, the spokesperson said.

The regional council has declined to comment further now that the matter is before the courts.

RealNZ chief executive officer Stephen England-Hall said the new moorings at Harrisons Cove had a lower ecological impact and a higher safety rating than the previous ones and as no abatement notice has been issued.

The moorings are still available to be used if required

In an interview in April, England-Hall said the company upgraded its existing moorings in Harrison Cove in Milford Sound to multi-anchor leg mooring systems.

He said the anchors used for the new moorings were screwed into the seabed using a helical screw pile, he said.

When asked whether the upgrade to the moorings at Harrison Cove required a new consent, he replied: '’we have existing consents for our moorings at Harrison Cove, and consents for our new moorings at Cascade Cove and First Arm were granted in February 2022.’’

The company had opted to install multi-anchor leg mooring systems because they were superior, offering significant environmental and safety advantages over swing moorings including no seabed disturbance, reduced swing area, and greater holding power, he said.

Fiordland Marine Guardians chairperson Rebecca McLeod said the group was satisfied that Environment Southland had taken its concerns seriously and was proceeding with a prosecution.