August 5, 2008 - Wellington
Forest & Bird media release for immediate use
Wrong decision on Wairau hydro scheme
Forest & Bird is disappointed at Marlborough District Council's failure to protect the Wairau River by allowing TrustPower to
build a hydro power scheme.
The Wairau River is home to several threatened species, particularly the black-fronted tern, whose survival will be
further jeopardised if the project goes ahead.
"TrustPower's plans to divert most of the river through 49 kilometres of canals would have a devastating impact," Forest & Bird Top of the South Field Officer Debs Martin says. The river's reduced flow would lead to small river channels and
wetlands drying up, reducing food and habitat for birds. Low flows would increase the water temperature, which would
kill some aquatic species.
The Wairau is one of the few remaining intact braided river systems in New Zealand. The many kilometres of habitat it
provides for native birds and fish is nationally important.
The Resource Management Act requires that the life-supporting capacity of rivers is maintained, and this is the leading
issue in the draft National environmental standard on ecological flows and water levels, which is open for public
consultation.
TrustPower's suggestion that it would modify the scheme if birds were further harmed by it was far-fetched, Debs Martin
says. "During the hearings earlier this year TrustPower's own experts could not give any examples where changes to
protect birds had worked," she says. "Who's going to wind back an expensive hydro scheme when the proof comes in that it
is causing real harm to an endangered species?"
Forest & Bird will work with other groups to take this case to the Environment Court.
ENDS