Whanganui plan now possible

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 442, 30 June 1992, Page 7

Whanganui plan now possible

The Manawatu-Wan-ganui Regional Council, is delighted with the news that Electricorp has decided not to appeal the High Court decision on the Wanganui Minimum Flows. "It's good news. We're delighted that Electricorp has made its decision in the way that it has as this will put an end to the legal process which has been costly for the Regional Council and our ratepayers. It means that the resource will now be fairly and equitably shared between all the resource users," said council chairman Don Linklater. Recent submissions to the Annual Plan of the Regional Council from Wakapai river boat operator Winston Oliver and other river boat operators pointed out that the Whanganui River was filling with gravel making it difficult to navigate. At that time General Manager, Reg Barrett, stated that until a decision had been made on the minimum flows a river management plan could not be drawn up. "Now that we have the decision we can proceed to draw up a comprehensive river management plan which will be to the

benefit of all the river users. Awaiting the decision from Electricorp has been overshadowing the management of the whole Wanganui catchment. It's certainly a relief to know we can now proceed," says Don Linklater. The decision of the High Court will not come into force for some time nor will the development of the river management plan which will be de-

veloped once the Regional Policy Statement which the Regional Council is currently working on has been completed. "The implementation of the minimum flow regime will not take place immediately and so will not affect the current energy crisis," said Mr Linklater. The regime will be implemented under the Re-

source Management Act and legal advice will be necessary to determine the most effective way of doing this. "The Regional Council, however, intends to have the regime in place for the summer when the river use is greatest."