The Queenstown Lakes District Council is proposing to declare Ben Lomond Forest, Queenstown Hill Forest and Coronet Forest a ‘forest’ under the Forest and Rural Fire Act 1977 (www.legislation.govt.nz).

Registering the Council forests as a ‘forest’  under the Forest and Rural Fires Act enables the areas to have higher fire protection than is afforded  ’general’ land under the Act.  The Community has a significant investment and income potential from these forests and every measure that can protect these areas should be undertaken.

The registration reduces the likelihood and consequences of a fire by imposing Fire Authority conditions and declaring a 1km fire safety margin around the forest.  The registration must be notified annually and renewed every five years.

The Fire Authority conditions that can be imposed under the Act are:

Prohibition of fires during extreme fire hazards conditions (section 20 of the Act).  The Council is proposing that the forest and its 1km fire safety have a 365 day prohibited fire season.

• Prohibition of certain operations during periods of extreme fire hazard (section 21 of the Act).
• A Fire Officer may by special permit authorise the lighting of a fire in the open air (section 24 of the Act).
• Restriction on entry into exotic forests, where fire hazard conditions exist (section 32 of the Act).
• When a regional fire emergency exists the National Rural Fire Officer may for the duration of the emergency take charge of any area (section 39 of the Act).
• No exotic trees are to be planted within 10 meters of the external forest boundary (section 17.3.e of the Act).

>> Map of proposed forest area (pdf 970kb)
>> map of proposed 1km fire safety margin (pdf 703kb)
>> Draft Forest Fire Plan (pdf

Have your say
The Council would like your feedback.  Please send comments to:
Forest Fire Protection, QLDC, Private Bag 50072, Queenstown or email to services@qldc.govt.nz (subject line Forest Fire Protection), 

Comments must be received by 9 July 2009

For more information please contact QLDC District Forester:  Briana O’Brien 03 450 1705.