Southland Conservation Board members yesterday discussed the concession system for Milford Sound air access, seeking a course of action to appease users of Fiordland National Park and tourism operators.
A concession system was agreed in 2005, resulting in 36 applications for 23 packets of 9496 yearly landings, with those missing out reacting angrily.
As a result, Minister of Conservation Tim Groser wrote a letter to the board suggesting two possible scenarios - the first to keep the status quo and the second to increase landings to 12,637.
The general consensus at yesterday's meeting in Invercargill was the second option was un-satisfactory, with Russell Ibbotson saying it needed to be made clear to the minister how much work and time had been put in to reach the agreement on the concession system in the first place.
A subcommittee is to reply to Mr Groser, while chairwoman Viv Shaw will meet Associate Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson on October 20 to voice the board's concerns.
The board also discussed the possibility of oil exploration in Fiordland National Park's Waitutu area by L&M Petroleum and Government plans to take stock of low conservation value land which may have mineral value.
Southland Conservator Barry Hanson assured members Waitutu was protected under Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act, which bans mining, something Mr McNeill emphasised was not by accident.
The board is to write to the minister to outline its concerns.
