Donga Blocked: Ashburton Council ‘blindsided’ by DOC decision
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Councillors feel blindsided by a “flawed process” where the Department of Conservation denied a Wildlife Act Authority Application for the Ashton Beach enhancement project.
The plans were to construct a motorbike park on the donga (a steep-sided gully) area of an unused part of the Ashburton District Council’s Ocean Farm at the beach, and create a protected wildlife area around it.
DOC declined the application.
Lizard expert, Dr Mandy Tocher, independently reviewed the decision and said she “doesn’t understand why it was declined”.
“I was surprised, so was the DOC technical advisor, and the other herpetologist involved in the process,” Tocher said.
“This was a sound plan.
“[Council] has been the victim of a flawed process.”
Doc’s decision outlined that the proposal didn’t provide an adequate level of protection for lizards and a likely loss of lizards overall, Arowhenua didn’t support it, and it was inconsistent with the purpose of the Wildlife Act 1953.
Councillors shared their disappointment at the decision, with councillor Stuart Wilson describing the report as “disgraceful reading”.
Tocher stated that in her opinion, DOC staff may have failed to provide Arowhenua with accurate information and she felt the council had gone above and beyond to present a “well and truly adequate” proposal.
“Some strange information has been put in front of the decision maker, Duncan Toogood, who resigned the very next day,” she said.
In response to DOC’s decision, the council was presented with options to submit a revised application, appeal the decision, or accept the decision bringing an end to the project.
Instead, the council resolved to take its concerns over the handling of the application directly to the Conservation Minister, Hon Poto Williams, as well as conservation spokespersons from other parties, and Rangitata MP Jo Luxton.
They will also be seeking a sit down with DOC and Arowhenua to work through the issues that resulted in the decision, to see if it is worth resurrecting the project or starting from scratch elsewhere.
To date, the project has cost $17,420 +GST and the initial estimated total project cost was $55,000.
* Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
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Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
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Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
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