Media release for immediate use 30 April 2009

Agreement Reached On Waitaki River

The Waitaki Protection Trust and Meridian have signed an agreement giving greater protection to the environmental values of the Waitaki River if Meridian’s North Bank Tunnel Project goes ahead.

Chairman of the Waitaki Protection Trust, Bob Robertson, says after discussion between the two parties, an agreement has been signed, prior to the upcoming Environment Court hearing.

“After discussions with Meridian, we felt we could achieve a better outcome for the river by coming to an agreement, rather than fighting in the Environment Court,” Bob Robertson said.

“If the river volumes are going to be changed anyway, we felt we needed to focus on ensuring the best outcomes to achieve a good long-term environment and habitat in the river under the new lower-flow regime.

“Meridian has listened to our concerns. We are happy with the agreement and will no longer be challenging the Resource Consent in the Environment Court.”

Meridian spokesman Alan Seay says the two parties have been talking for a number of weeks.

“We have now reached an understanding with the Trust on how we will work together going forward,” he says.

“It means we can work in a collaborative way on a number of initiatives to be undertaken as part of the North Bank Tunnel Project, if it goes ahead.”

SUMMARY OF AGREEMENTS

Under the agreement, Meridian would not onsell any of the allocated water which must only be used for power generation. In addition the company will not seek to vary the minimum flow rates specified in the resource consent at any stage in the future. No new hydro power development in the future will be permitted.

Meridian and the Waitaki Protection Trust will work together to establish appropriate flow regimes and management plans to achieve the best outcomes for habitat and recreational purposes.

Meridian will take specific measures to address the balance between bare river gravels and revegetation using native plants. Management of gorse and other brush weeds will be undertaken from Waitaki Dam to the sea and more aggressive measures will be taken to control gorse spreading into the dry riverbeds created by the North Bank Tunnel Project .

There will also be a coordinated approach with the Waitaki Protection Trust, other interested parties and landowners to prevent further encroachment of farmland into the riparian margins exposed as a result of the hydro project

80 hectares of riparian wetlands will be created and maintained on land that Meridian controls to improve habitats in low flow areas and dry river braids. Meridian will also actively encourage and work with other landholders to create an additional 70 hectares of managed habitat areas. The creation and planting of these riparian wetlands will generally occur along the riparian margins of the gravel river channel, potentially utilising back braids and channels.

Additional river access points will be created through land owned by Meridian. The number, type and location of these access points will be developed in consultation with interested parties but could include walking, bike, and road/boat access.

Meridian will use reasonable endeavours to reduce material levels of didymo and will consult with the Waitaki Protection Trust on flow management techniques.

BACKGROUND

The North Bank Tunnel Project is a hydro generation proposal made by Meridian. It would involve taking water from Lake Waitaki, behind the Waitaki dam, into a tunnel, through a power station before discharging it back into the Waitaki River at Stonewall.

A water-only resource was granted by Environment Canterbury in December 2008. A hearing of appeals against that decision is due to begin in the Environment Court on June 21.

ENDS

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