unspoilt beauty spoilt

The greens have nailed this issue. There is no way that a business should get a concession at Cathedral Cove and the fact that DOC are doing it for revenue is beyond sad, what about protecting the environment DOC, what happened to that imperative?

From Stuff

"Residents and holidaymakers near the remote and unspoiled Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula are appalled an icecream stall is operating there under a licence granted by the Department of Conservation.

The cove's crystal waters and famous arch are accessible only by boat or a half-hour trek.

DoC initially issued the licence for a seven-week trial period, pending approval from the Thames Coromandel District Council.

A public meeting early next year will give people a chance to respond to the developments in and around the cove.

But residents feel the icecream stall should not have been allowed in the first place. They also told the Herald the shop is already operating, without council permission.

"It is astonishing and shocking that DoC would not only grant a licence ... but would do so without any consultation with the community that loves and protects the place," said Mr Hawley.

Waikato conservator Greg Martin said DoC was faced with diminishing state funding and had to find ways to fund its work.

But Mr Hawley said it was not worth ruining the beauty of the site for the 8 per cent of the shop's earnings that went to DoC.

That is not much money is it? The fact is that this is the thin edge of the wedge or as we used to say, "In like a needle, out like a plough." Once the precedent has been set, others will use that.

I quite worried about DoC, especially with the underhand deals they are doing around the place. What is going to happen when brownlee gives them the word for the mining? - they will cave in like wet newspaper.