People in the Omarama and Mackenzie Basins fear they are being cut out of a Government-driven process to determine acceptable development in the areas where they live and work, despite an assurance they have to be involved.
That view is supported by Mackenzie Mayor Claire Barlow, who said there was growing apprehension about a proposal by Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean on behalf of Minister for the Environment Nick Smith to set up the Mackenzie Sustainable Futures Trust as a collaborative approach to address environmental issues in the area.
Details of the trust were being hammered out at a meeting in Twizel yesterday and today, closed to the news media and local people unless they were part of about 30 invited groups and agencies.
Mrs Dean said closing the meeting was needed for "full and frank discussions" involving local and regional government, Federated Farmers, government departments and agencies and environmental groups.
Dr Smith, at a symposium in November last year, had emphasised any process needed to be locally driven, but Twizel resident Scott Aronsen, who canvassed local opinion yesterday, said there was a fear the trust proposal was being driven from Wellington. Some local people he talked to did not know about the meeting yesterday and today.
"The general consensus is it is not the way forward for the [Omarama and Mackenzie] basins," he said.
Mrs Barlow expressed a similar view. "Many local landowners and my [Mackenzie district] councillors aren't convinced the Government has got the formula right."
She supported Dr Smith in November when he said the process had to be locally driven, and property rights would need to be protected.
"A third factor is also vital and that is time to win the confidence of those most affected. Unfortunately, this hasn't happened."
Mr Aronsen said local people felt they should be the ones to decide what was best for their area. Decisions that were made would have a big impact on everything, from jobs to school rolls.
"If local people are not involved, it will get their backs up. This is not the way to do it," he said about the proposal. They were also concerned at the speed with which the trust, and any decisions it would make, was being pursued.
Mrs Barlow said local district and regional councils were charged by Parliament with the governance of their communities.
"It seems logical that we should play a key role in the resolution of these issues but the process seems to consign us to the sideline."
Her council and the Waitaki District Council were represented at the meeting to ensure the concerns of their communities were well understood by Government, she said.
