Hump Ridge Charitable Trust Concession – Public Notification
Location: 225 Milford Road, Te Anau
Opened: October 2023
Our Solution
Our experienced planning team supported the Trust by preparing and managing applications for:
A concession for guided walking activities on the track.
A lease and license for two private accommodation facilities and supporting infrastructure, including additions to facilities.
Easements for essential track and facilities infrastructure.
As part of the application, we prepared a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), covering:
Effects on landscape values, flora and fauna, biosecurity, and cultural and historical values;
Effects on other users, waste management, discharges, fire risk, and noise; and
Private/leased land considerations.
Our application included a robust assessment against key statutory documents including the National Parks General Policy, the Fiordland National Park Management Plan, and the Southland Murihiku Conservation Management Strategy 2016. Due to the scale and significance of the proposal the application was notified to the public.
Post notification we worked with the Trust and the Department of Conservation to ensure conditions of the concession, lease and licences, and easements were practical and clear to enable the Trust to continue to carryout its activities in this special part of New Zealand.
The Challenge
The Hump Ridge Track is located within the Fiordland National Park and is managed by the Hump Ridge Charitable Trust in partnership. The Trust operates and maintains the track and its huts. In 2019, the Hump Ridge Track was officially announced as New Zealand’s next Great Walk. To upgrade the track to a Great Walk standard, the Hump Ridge Charitable Trust needed to secure a range of complex approvals from the Department of Conservation, which included authorisation for the continued use and upgrading of the track’s huts, infrastructure, and guiding services.
The Outcome
The Department of Conservation granted the concession, lease and licence, and easements all as applied for, enabling the Hump Ridge Charitable Trust to continue its highly regarded tourism operation and transition to running New Zealand’s newest Great Walk.
The Trust commented:
“We were very impressed with the level of professionalism and experience we received from SLWP. The process was managed with care and expertise, giving us confidence every step of the way.”
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