No Dams but lower rivers’ future still in doubt, Fish & Game

North Canterbury Fish & Game welcomes aspects of yesterday’s announcement that Environment Canterbury (ECan) has adopted the hearing panel’s decisions in regard to the Hurunui Waiau Regional River Plan.

“It is great news to finally get the nationally important values in the upper Hurunui Catchment recognised in a regional plan by way of a no damming provision.” says Tony Hawker, North Canterbury Fish & Game field officer.

The resolution to prohibit storage development in the upper reaches was decided by independent hearing commissioners based on the evidence provided by Fish & Game, Whitewater New Zealand, Forest and Bird, Department of Conservation, experts provided by the Snowden family and other.

This level of protection is something which has been sought by Fish & Game and other environmental groups for many years, and Mr Hawker added “The no damming provision will now protect the cultural, recreational and natural values for all to enjoy from inappropriate storage development.”
However, Fish & Game is surprised that the nitrogen limit proposed for the lower Hurunui will be increased by 25%.

This increases the risk of water quality becoming more degraded in the Hurunui River, especially given there is uncertainty about the long term potential increases in algal growth in the river as a result of the increase in nitrogen levels.

“The decision to increase nitrogen seems at odds with both the National Policy Statement for freshwater and the Canterbury Water Management Strategy; both state that water quality must be maintained or improved.”

Fish & Game is also concerned that a large amount of water is available for abstraction from the Hurunui and Waiau Rivers under C block. The decision does at least recognise that minimum flows in both the Hurunui (15 cumecs) and Waiau (20 cumecs) need to be raised immediately in the summer months to offset the effects of this large amount of allocation.

Unfortunately, even though the Hurunui Waiau Regional Plan now specifies increased minimum flows, existing abstracters don’t have to comply with them unless their consents are reviewed by ECan.

Fish & Game hopes that ECan would start this process immediately to get some much needed protection for these rivers before these substantial takes occur, and Mr Hawker stated “To not raise the minimum flows and allow this large allocation to go ahead would make a mockery of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy and its first order priority of protecting the environment.”

The Hurunui Waiau Regional Plan will now be open for appeals to the High Court on points of law only. Fish & Game will be reviewing the decision over the next few days.

ENDS

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