National conservation sought for the Rakaia

Press, 25 June 1983, Page 3

National conservation sought for the Rakaia

Both the North Canterbury Catchment Board and the South Canterbury Catchment and Regional Water Board have opted for a national conservation order to cover the Rakaia River, its tributaries and lakes, in spite of fears of some North Canterbury members that this would take decisionmaking out of local hands. The order has been sought by the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies and the National Water and Soil, Conservation Association has asked the appropriate authorities whether the application should be considered under the procedures for a national water conservation order or a local water conservation notice. The North Canterbury board’s chief executive officer, Mr E. R. Wood, told yesterday’s meeting of the resources committee that there were national issues at stake on both sides of the argument. He said the board should opt for a national order as this was the most expeditious way of getting the issue resolved. Both procedures provided for public notice of applications, objections, public hearings, appeals to or inquiries by the Planning Tribunal, and public notifi-

cation of decisions. However, the initial hearing for a national order was by the National Water and Soil Conservation Association. This might be followed by a public inquiry by a planning tribunal, but the effective decision to grant decline the order would be made by the Minster of Works, Mr Friedlander. The Regional Water Board would undertake the initial hearing for a local notice, with appeals to the Planning Tribunal, but Mr Wood said that if the board recommended this course it would appear to think that there were no national issues at stake. Mr F. F. Wilding expressed concern that the board would appear to be' “passing the buck” if it allowed the decision to be taken out of its hands. “The board has spent thousands of dollars researching this resource... it is probably the most comprehensive and best investigation carried

out on any river catchment in New Zealand,” he said. “Allowing a national order to go through without any discussion would mean allowing the people in Wellington to make the decision for us.” He was concerned that this decision would be politically orientated, and not geared to water and soil considerations. Mr O. J. Osborne agreed with Mr Wilding’s fears, but thought the board could serve Canterbury's interests better when it was in a position to give evidence at a hearing being undertaken by another body. The committee’s chairman, Dr B. P. Molloy, said the board’s report on the Rakaia River would not be wasted, but the emphasis on it might have to change. Mr Wood added that the final decision would never be made in Canterbury because of the way the law stood and the major interests involved in such a resource. The committee decided to

recommend that the application be dealt with as a national water conservation order, but Mr Wilding voted against the decision. At the South Canterbury board’s special meeting yesterday the chairman, Mr P. F. Scott, said that the matter was of considerable importance. If the Lower Rakaia irrigation scheme was approved it would be of benefit to the region within the board’s area and to those who lived in the region. The board’s water resource engineer, Mr F. Scarf, had earlier recommended a national conservation order. The Rakaia River was the largest single water resource in the Canterbury region, with a mean flow almost equivalent to the combined flows of the Rangitata and Waimakariri rivers. Members of both boards will attend a meeting of interest parties on Wednesday, organised by the Canterbury United Council.