Hydro report threat to conservation
On the eve of Conservation Week, the Ministry of Economic Development has released a list of proposed hydroelectric
schemes it believes are likely within the next 20 years, including the controversial West Coast Dobson scheme already
rejected by the Government.
"Those of us who were around in the Muldoon years have seen it all before," said Forest and Bird's Conservation Manager
Kevin Hackwell.
"It is clear that the MED is nostalgic for the Ministry of Works and the National Development Act," he said.
"This report should be a wake up call to communities throughout the country on the implications of amending the Resource
Management Act. If a 'national interest' clause is written into the RMA it'll be open slather on a river near you," he
said.
"This is the new 'Think Big.' Many of these proposals - like Dobson - will only be possible by causing severe
environmental damage. The authors of this report appear to have no concept of the environmental consequences of what
they are proposing," he said.
"Its extraordinary that government officials are proposing further damage of our rivers when all the indicators show New
Zealand's rivers are already in trouble. Last year's annual report on the Biodiversity Strategy predicted extinctions of
freshwater species. Recently, a report was published revealing that most of New Zealand's lowland streams are too
polluted to swim in. We want solutions to these problems, not more destruction," he said.
"There will be widespread unease in communities throughout New Zealand when people realise the full consequences of this
report," he said. "Most of the high and medium confidence proposals will destroy local rivers for the amount of power a
small wind farm with the latest wind turbines could generate1. Faced with losing a local river or having a small wind
farm I know what most communities would choose," he said.
"It would be great if the MED and their engineers could come into the 21st Century," he said.
ENDS
1. The latest Meridian wind turbines generate 1.65 MW each
Key rivers targeted in the report:
Northland Region
Purua Rapids
Waikato
Waipapa River Waipa River
Bay of Plenty
Tarawera River Rangataiki River Waimana Ruakokore River
Gisborne
Mata River Waingakia Stream Waitahaia
Hawkes Bay
Wairoa and Mangapoike Rivers Mohaka River Ngaruroro River Tukituki River
Taranaki
Patea River
Wanganui-Manawatu
Mangawhero River Waimiha Stream Waimarino Stream Waikoura/Mangahuka Hautapu River Pohangina River
Wellington/Wairarapa
Waiohine River Waingawa River
Nelson Marlborough
Pelorus River Wairua River Waihopai River Awatere Waimea Wairoa
West Coast
Rough River Upper Grey Lower Grey Dobson (also mentioned Zeilian Creek, Moeraki River, Wanganui River, Te
Naihi/Waiatoto, Taipo, Mahitahi, Lake Rochfort, Waiho/Tartare, Waimangaroa)
Canterbury
Clarence (diversion to Waiau) Waiau Hurunui Ashburton Project Aqua Hopkins River Waitaki/Kakanui
Otago
Manuherikia River Upper Clutha Lake Hawea Nevis River Taieri Falls Lower Taieri Deep Stream Lee Stream
Southland
Waiau River