KCDC have missed the boat on Kapiti
KCDC have missed the boat on Kapiti
>
> Kapiti Coast
District Council have missed the boat to save Kapiti Island
tourism according to Districtwide Councillor Jackie Elliott,
a former tour guide on the island.
>
> Island tour
operators estimated business was down 80% on previous years.
Now we have the proof, numbers have plummeted from 1569 last
January to 283 last month, said Councillor Elliott. The
dramatic decline began with the Department of Conservations
increase in daily permit charges from 1st Feb 2013 from
$11.20 per adult to $29.80.
> DOC changes also saw Kapiti
Island removed from the DOC online booking site, and loaded
operators with increased levels of compliance costs and the
full cost of supplying guides to carry out DOC bio security
checks and introductory talks.
>
> Councillors Elliott
said, when discussing economic growth, I have asked KCDC
repeatedly to sit up and take notice of the decline. "We
need to look after our existing tourism assets before
investing in new ventures."
> Just prior to Christmas
Councillors were told that DOC Kapiti/Poneke Regional
Manager Rob Stone was not returning calls from him or KCDC
CEO, Pat Dougherty for an urgent meeting,
> They finally
met last week. The Mayor reported, 'DOC are aware of the
feedback and there would be a Ministerial Review in May.
'
>
> " We have been fobbed off" says Councillor
Elliott, May is the middle of the year and tourism operators
would normally be taking bookings for the 2015 summer
season, the continuing delay puts yet another season in
jeopardy.
>
> The long awaited $30,000 KCDC gateway
report is due out on the 27th of March, however Cr Elliott
doubts it will address the urgent action needed by Council
to lobby the minister of conservation to save the local jobs
and businesses at risk by DOC's actions. " The least we can
do is suggest they get Kapiti back on the DOC booking
website, " says Councillor
Elliott.
ends