District plan looks at riparian rules

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 560, 1 November 1994, Page 7

District plan looks at riparian rules

The new Ruapehu Draft District Plan (DDP) deals with riparian rights and management (relating to the legal rights of the owner of land on a river bank such as fishing or irrigation) as well as public access. These are covered in detail and at length in the DDP (pp 1 18-123) as well as in the Chief Executive's Commentary (pp 29-3 1 ) which are available at Ruapehu District Service Centres and Libraries. A brief summary of the aims, objectives, philosophy and rules is outlined below in respect of the rivers within the Bulletin 's readership area. Riparian management and public access are two different concepts although these are not mutually exclusive. The Resource Management Act (RM A) states (Sections

6a and d) that: in achieving the purpose of this Act, in relation to managing the use, development and protection of natural and physical resources, shall recognise and provide for the following matters of national importance: □ The preservation of the natural character of wetlands, lakes and rivers and their margins and the protection of them from inappropriate subdivision, use and development; □ The maintenance and enhancement of public access to and along the coastal marine area, lakes and rivers. The list of waterways identified in the DDP is targeted at the major recreation rivers in the District namely the Makatote River, the Mangaturuturu Stream, the Mangateitei TURNTOPAGE12

Riparian rules

FROM PAGE 7 Stream, The Mangatepopo Stream and the Waimarino Stream three of which (Makatote, Mangaturuturu and Waimarino) are tributaries of the Manganui-o-Te Ao River which is itself protected by a National Water Conservation Order. The legal status of riparian reserves and public access to these rivers is covered in the DDP by the following comments: _ □ Makatote River: good coverage by existing reserves. □ Mangaturuturu Stream: only small areas of reserves exist but the stream runs through large sections of Protected Areas. □ Mangateitei Stream: mainly urban; good coverage of reserves in some areas of its course. □ Mangatepopo Stream: runs mainly through Protected Areas. □ Waimarino Stream: good coverage by existing reserves.