ARC view of our recreation!
Following the closure of the comments period on this Impacts Paper and a fairly blunt reaction from some, the following email was received... Thank you for your letter regarding the off road motorised recreation impacts paper. All of the comments made have been noted and will be included in our feedback to the ARC regarding the ORMR impacts paper. In addition I will also ensure that a copy of your letter is given directly to the Councillors involved. In particular, I note your point made regarding the input from New Zealand Four Wheel Drive Association to the document. While some of the information regarding the demand for off road recreation is based our initial discussions, demand survey and discussions with other off road users, the document is not intended to represent the views of, or be endorsed by the off road sector, NZFWDA or any of the clubs. I will ensure that from this point forward any reference to the NZFWDA and other clubs is removed from this paper and that your comments and concerns are provided to the ARC in full and recognised in any feedback report regarding the impacts paper. In way of background, the project was originally conceived by the ARC as a single study to cover demand and impacts of ORMR, however it was decided by the ARC, mid way through the process, to develop separate papers that consider the demand, the impacts and include a public perception telephone survey of a random sample of 500 Auckland residents. The primary reason for this was to acknowledge that the off road users and the environmental groups, as I am sure you will appreciate, have very different views on the activity. There is little agreement on any of the issues considered both from a demand perspective as well as the potential impacts. As a result both documents were based on the initial research period when the opinions of the off road sector were sought; this was at the stage when the intention was for a single study. For information we have received very similar comments regarding the biased nature of the demand paper from environmental groups. The end point of the study will be the following three documents: · A summary report on the issues and potential responses associated with off road motorised recreation in the Auckland region (which will cover where people go riding/driving, the level of demand, the issues with current provision and an analysis of what could be done to address these issues); · A summary report on the impacts of off road motorised recreation Auckland region; and · A summary report on the public’s perception of off road motorised recreation.
Each study will include all the feedback received and will be used by the ARC to inform their future position. The ARC have indicated that a copy of all three reports will be made available to the public. Kind regards Richard
Richard Hutchinson A new document released for comment by the Auckland Regional Council that they refer to as the 'Impacts Paper'. It certainly identifies a wide collection of "impacts'" that they attribute to vehicle recreation... there is no attempt to recognise that most, if not all, the "impacts" can also result from almost every other human activity. It appears that 'walkers' don't crush vegetation, compact soils, annoy other people, or have any impact on this world! This document really does push the boundaries and deserves strong reaction from all vehicle based recreations You can submit your comments by
Off Road Motorised Recreation Study
Submissions close at 5.00pm on the 6th March 2009.
More Information at: www.arc.govt.nz/albany/fms/main/Documents/Environment/Coastal and marine/Off Road Motorised Recreation in the Auckland Region Impacts Report - January 2009.pdf
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