Application for a concession by NZSki Limited
Introduction
Have your say on a concession application by NZSki Limited for a lease, licence and easement within the Rastus Burn Recreation Reserve. Submissions closed 30 January 2023.Decision and recommendation reports
Recommendation report (objection and submission summary) (PDF, 2,999K)
Submissions and hearing
Submissions closed 30 January 2023. We received 24 objections or submissions. Four submitters have requested to be heard.
A virtual hearing will be held at 9:15 am, Friday, 3 March 2023. If you wish to attend the hearing contact Kelvin Brown at kibrown@doc.govt.nz.
Note: Queenstown Climbing Club Inc. made reference to the following links on page 12 of Submission 21:
- Point 24: Ruapehu ski season fizzles out - article
- Point 25: NIWA report and Dismantling shut ski resorts an uphill battle in Swiss Alps - article
- Point 27: DOC purpose and outcomes
This application is notified under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987. The Minister of Conservation has received an application by NZSki Limited for a lease, licence and easement to replace and realign the existing Shadow Basin passenger lift system and associated infrastructure within the Rastus Burn Recreation Reserve. The application for concession is for a term of 40 years.
Application details
Applicant: NZSki Limited
Location of proposed activity: Rastus Burn Recreation Reserve
Map reference: Approximate GPS NZTM 2000: E1270347, N5002497 to E1269817, N5001797
Concession Applied for: Lease, licence and easement
Summary of proposal: 40-year term concession (lease, licence and easement) to replace and realign the existing Shadow Basin passenger lift system and associated infrastructure at the Remarkables Ski Area, Queenstown.
The proposal involves:
- earthworks and indigenous vegetation clearance to establish an access-way and build new ski trails
- installation of a bottom station/base terminal including overhead rail system, chair storage building, control and low voltage room
- installation of a top station including lift operator building and storage facility
- installation of towers, lift cables, ski lift chairs, utility services, snow making infrastructure
- decommissioning of the existing chair lift infrastructure involving removal of towers and end stations back to ground level.
Application documents:
- Application Information Form 1a (PDF, 191K)
- Shadow Basin Application Form (includes Appendix A and B) (PDF, 6,223K)
- Appendix C - Plans of Passenger Lift System and Associated Buildings (PDF, 5,752K)
- Appendix D - Southern Land Development Consultants (SLDC) Proposed Earthworks Plans (PDF, 59,939K) Note: This is a large file.
- Appendix E - Protocols for the Rehabilitation of Natural Alpine Environments Following Ski Area Developments between Department of Conservation and NZSki Ltd (PDF, 106K)
- Appendix F - E3Scientific Ecological Report – Shadow Basin Terrestrial Ecological Assessment (PDF, 19,889K)
- Appendix G - E3Scientific Lower Shadow Basin Lift Station Freshwater Assessment (PDF, 2,220K)
- Appendix H - Blakely and Associates Landscape Assessment (PDF, 11,957K)
- Appendix I - Wildlands Herpetologist Survey (PDF, 1,070K)
- Easement Application Form (PDF, 367K)
How to make a submission
Any person or organisation may make a submission in writing to the Director-General on the proposal.
Submissions closed Monday, 30 January 2023.
1. Prepare your submission
Any person or organisation wishing to be heard in support of their submission, must request (within that submission) an opportunity to appear before the Director-General.
2. Send your submission
Send your submission by email or post. You will get a confirmation email or letter when a submission has been received.
Email: dnsubmissions@doc.govt.nz
Subject line: Submission on NZSki Ltd - Remarkables Shadow Basin concession application
Post:
Director-General
Department of Conservation
Ōtepoti / Dunedin Service Centre
Level 1, John Wickliffe House
265 Princes Street
Ōtepoti / Dunedin 9016
Attention: Kelvin Brown, Permissions Advisor
Once submitted, submitters’ information is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and may be released under that Act. If you wish to keep any part of your submission confidential, you need to state this in writing when making your submission.
What happens next
After submissions close:
- DOC will analyse and consider all submissions and comments on the application.
- A hearing will be held if there have been requests to be heard by the Director-General. If you have expressed an interest in presenting your submission at a hearing, you will be contacted by DOC regarding this.
- DOC will analyse and consider information raised at the hearing if a hearing occurred.
- DOC will make a recommendation to the Minister of Conservation.
- The Minister of Conservation will make a decision on the application.
Hearing details
A public hearing will be held online at 10:30 am, Friday, 3 March 2023.
A link to the online hearing will be added once available.
DOC comment regarding publicly notified applications
The Minister of Conservation has made no determination regarding the suitability of this proposed concession on public conservation land. This public notification should not be interpreted as an intention on the part of the Minister of Conservation to grant the proposed concession.
Contact
If you have any questions about the application or the submission process you can email dnsubmissions@doc.govt.nz.