Supporting the development of riverside walking and cycling
trails is one of the key initiatives the newly formed Upper
Clutha River Guardians will pursue as part of their
opposition to dams on the Clutha River.
The guardians held their first meeting last week to formulate
strategies to oppose any development of hydro-electricity
dams on the Clutha River.
The group was formed in response to Contact Energy's planned
consultation with riverside communities about the possible
construction and siting of up to four new dams on the Clutha.
Guardians chairman Tim Ryan said more than 20 people and
representatives from other Upper Clutha community groups
attended the first meeting.
Several apologies were also made by non-attending
environmental lobby-group representatives, he said.
"There is a lot of good commitment from the Upper Clutha
community to stop these dams from happening."
The guardians were keen to work with other groups and
riverside communities who were also opposed to the notion of
dams on the Clutha River, he said.
Supporting trail initiatives along the Clutha was one way of
promoting positive and sustainable development of the river,
compared with the construction of dams.
River trails would provide long-term economical benefits and
boost riverside communities, while dams would only provide a
short-term financial boost to communities during any
construction period, he said.
The guardians will meet again this month to discuss further
strategies and elect a committee of executive members.
• A petition calling for Contact Energy to halt its proposal
to reconsider building dams on the Clutha River at Luggate,
Queensberry, Beaumont and Tuapeka is pushing for 1000
signatories.
Wanaka woman Meg Taylor started the petition last month and
intends to lobby Prime Minister John Key and the Government
to have the proposal dropped.
Contact Energy hydro development manager Neil Gillespie, of
Cromwell, has welcomed divergent views from riverside
communities as the power company undertakes a consultation
period about whether to proceed with the dams.
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