DOC ignored Southland Conservation Board advice on island airstripJohn HawkinsThe Department of Conservation ignored a Southland Conservation Board recommendation to allow aeroplanes to land on a remote Stewart Island airstrip. Southland Conservation Board member Lloyd Esler said the board last year supported an application made by the Backcountry Pilots Association to land aeroplanes on the strip. However, the Stewart Island airstrip near Mason Bay had "missed out on that". DOC was under no obligation to take the advice of the conservation board, he confirmed. DOC southern South Island conservation services director Allan Munn said it was correct the conservation board had decided in a split vote to support the Back Country Pilots Association's bid to land on the strip.

Source: Stuff August 08, 2016 04:37 UTC