It’s taken two years and more than $50,000 for the Fiordland Trails Trust to get retrospective resource consent for culverts on its popular walking and cycling trail near Lake Manapouri, and trust chairman Steve Hoskin could not be more pleased.

“I am glad to have that behind us and we’ve got lots of good things to focus on us now, like aiming up the lake and getting towards Te Anau Downs,’’ Dr Hoskin said today (August 25).

“It was painful to sort out and cost us a lot of time and money . . . more than $50,000,’’ Dr Hoskin said.

As soon as possible, maybe even later this week, the trust intends to finish work on a section of trail that was subject to a complaint by former Southland regional councillor Maurice Rodway in 2018.

Environment Southland independent hearings commissioner Sharron McGarry granted the trust a retrospective resource consent on July 26.

The decision allows the trust to modify a wetland and divert surface water on leg 6 of the Lake 2 Lake Trail between Te Anau and Manapouri. 

It legalizes two culverts installed in 2018 and permits a third culvert and some ancillary works, which the trust hopes to complete by August 31.

Conditions and mitigation work include installing a fish passage, monitoring groundwater levels, weed control, planting native vegetation, filling a water table and removing a soil heap.

Proposed remedial works at the wetland site. IMAGE: GEOSOLVE/FIORDLAND TRAILS TRUST CONSENT APPLICATION

The decision follows hearings in March and June and ends a tortuous process for the trails trust, which was served with an abatement notice by Environment Southland after Mr Rodway’s complaint.

The trust stopped work, applied for consent and a hearing was scheduled for 2019. But before it went ahead, the trust decided to modify the application to include the third, smaller culvert. 

Most of the 74 submitters wanted the trust to get consent. Two submitters were neutral. 

Environment Southland consultant consents officer Sonya Nicol recommended the application be declined because of adverse hydrological effects and loss of vegetation.

She argued the Southland Water and Land Plan required such adverse effects to be avoided.

The works impacted on about 120m2 of a much larger, ecologically significant wetland.

Ms McGarry concluded that with appropriate conditions and mitigation, the adverse environmental effects would be “no more than minor’’.

In making her decision, she considered several national and regional policy documents and management plans on wetlands and water quality. 

“While I acknowledge the direct loss of approximately 120m2, I am satisfied that this can be mitigated and offset through improvements to the extent, form and function of the wetland by planting appropriate indigenous species and ongoing weed control over 2,000m2 of the wetland. 

“I am satisfied that the construction of a third culvert will mitigate any adverse hydrological effects on the wetland downhill from the trail and will enable enhancement of the downhill area of the wetland,’’ she said.

Overall, the applications were consistent with the Resource Management Act and the consents should therefore be granted, she said.

Ms McGarry noted the diversion of water through the three culverts was to avoid damming water and did not require a separate water permit.

Dr Hoskin said the consent was the latest piece of good news for the trust, which had been thrilled with the high visitor participation rate in the recent Te Anau Hyrdo Half Marathon and was now looking forward to a Cruise for a Cause fundraiser with Real Journeys in October.

The cruise would be a major fundraiser for the trust and would help raise thousands more for trail maintenance and building, he said.

The trust would be outlining future projects at the trust’s annual meeting on September 8, 5.30pm at the Te Anau Club.