Dunne: Mokihinui Dam decision narrow-minded

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has described the decision to grant resource consent for an 85 metre high hydro dam on the Mokihinui River as “narrow-minded and backward”.

“The commissioners decided by a 2-1 split that the complete destruction of an iconic waterway and the flooding of a 14km valley were worth sacrificing for another short-sighted hydro scheme,” said Mr Dunne.

“As well as being an area of outstanding natural beauty and abundant in native flora and fauna the Mokihinui is a top fly-fishing river and one of New Zealand’s premier wilderness fishing experiences.”

“This decision is disappointing not only for the river, fishery and native forest that will be destroyed but by the sheer narrow-mindedness of it. Once a river is damned its natural character and the character of the land around it is changed permanently and can never be gotten back.”

“Rivers are a finite resource.”

“Yes, it is true that New Zealand is reliant on hydro generation, yet hasn’t the time come to say we have dammed enough rivers, let’s protect the few truly wild rivers that remain and instead invest in new technologies such as solar, wind and tidal generation.”

“I also find it hard to swallow that regions such as the West Coast and Otago with small populations and major iconic landscapes are sacrificed for the needs of urbanised New Zealand. The investment and development of wind, tidal and solar energy would give us more flexibility to produce electricity closer to where it is actually used, saving not only our natural heritage but the huge costs associated with transmission,” said Mr Dunne.

Mr Dunne has indicated initial interest in joining an appeal against the decision, and will consider that option further once he has had time to properly assess the details of today’s decision.

ENDS

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