National conservation order for river applied for

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 44, 21 April 1987, Page 1

National conservation order for river applied for

The water conservation order application for the Manganui-a-Te-Ao River will be made as for a national water conservation order, the Minister of Works and Development, the Rt. Hon. Fraser Colman, said last Thursday. Mr Colman said that the river merits such consideration because of its nationally important values for wildlife, fisheries, scenic, recreational and historical features. The application, which was made by the Minister of Internal Affairs Mr Peter Tapsell, will now be consiiered in detail by the National Water and Soil Conservation Authority. The Authority will soon place public notices inviting interested parties to comment on the merits of the application. The public will have 28 days publication of notices inviting comment on the application to object or support the move. The Manganui-a-Te-Ao river is renowned for its scenic beauty and as a fishery for rainbow and brown trout. It is also a habitat for the rare blue mountain duck. A national order would preserve the river in its natural state. Water rights can-

not be granted on a river covered by a national order if they compromise the provisions of that order. Existing uses of the river would not be affected by the order but future damming or diverting of the river would be prevented. The Rangatikei-Wanga-nui Catchment Board is not in favour of a national order being placed on the river. Earlier this year the board had recommended a local notice be applied for as they

believed that the river was not outstanding in a national sense. Most Waimarino County Councillors were in favour of a local notice and the Raetihi Borough Council had reserved its decision on which order they would support. Studies have been done on the feasibility of developing the river as a Hydro electricity resource by the Wanganui-Rangatikei and King Country Power boards.