Application for a lease variation by Lake Rotoiti Outdoor Education Trust

Introduction

Have your say on an application by Lake Rotoiti Outdoor Education Trust for the variation to an existing lease to move a low ropes course in Nelson Lakes National Park. Submissions close 17 March 2025.

This application is notified under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987. The Minister of Conservation has received an application to vary an existing lease concession.

Application details

Applicant: Lake Rotoiti Outdoor Education Trust
Location of Proposed Activity: Lake Rotoiti Lodge Challenge Ropes Course – Rotoiti Lodge Lodge Road, St Arnaud, 7072.
Map Reference: NaPALIS ID 2803471
Concession type: A variation in a lease location.
Summary of proposal: This is a variation application to an existing lease (PAC-10-12-013) of the Rotoiti Lodge Challenge Ropes Course. The variation applies to move the location of the existing low ropes course to a slightly different area in the Nelson Lakes National Park. This variation is sought due to dead beech trees in the current leased area that could pose a safety hazard. DOC staff have assessed the removal of the trees as involving too much damage to surrounding vegetation and a less damaging solution is to move the low ropes activities to a new area of lower vegetation. The new area is roughly the same size as the area no longer required.
Application documents: 

How to make a submission

Any person or organisation may make a submission in writing to the Director-General on the proposal. 

Submissions close at 5 pm on Monday, 17 March 2025.

1. Prepare your submission

Record what you think in the submission form.

Any person or organisation wishing to be heard at a possible hearing in support of their submission must request an opportunity to appear before the Director-General. This request must be included in your submission.

2. Send us your submission

Send your submission by email or post. You'll get a confirmation email or letter when a submission has been received.

Email: kaspinwall@doc.govt.nz
Subject line: Lake Rotoiti Outdoor Education Trust

Post:
Director-General
Department of Conservation
161 Cashel Street
Central Christchurch

Attention: Kelly Aspinwall, 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, state this in writing when making your submission.

What happens next

After submissions close:

  • DOC will analyse and consider all submissions.
  • 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'll 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

If a hearing is required, it's likely to occur the week starting 31 March 2025.

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 a question about the application or the submission process you can contact Kelly Aspinwall, Permissions Advisor.

Email: kaspinwall@doc.govt.nz