Parties involved in
the debate over whether damming should be prohibited on the
Nevis River were in mediation last week to narrow down the
issues left for the Environment Court to decide.
Details of the two days of mediation are confidential, but
the aim of the exercise was to thoroughly explore the
differences and agreement between the parties, Otago Fish and
Game chief executive Niall Watson said.
The New Zealand and Otago Fish and Game Councils had sought
an amendment of the water conservation order on the Nevis so
damming or diversion of the river was banned.
The application drew 248 submissions and was heard by a
special tribunal appointed by the Ministry for the
Environment.
The tribunal's recommendation, announced in August, was in
favour of the conservation order being changed.
It found the river had one outstanding characteristic that
was not protected by the original conservation order: the
presence of a native fish called Gollum galaxiid, a species
found only in the Nevis River. A ban on damming or diverting
the river was vital to protect the habitat of that native
fish, it said.
The tribunal's finding was challenged by three submitters -
Pioneer Generation, the fish and game councils and Whitewater
New Zealand - and now the matter will be heard by the
Environment Court.
Pioneer, a power company with plans for hydro-electric
development on the river, has opposed the tribunal's
recommendation.
The councils asked for the river's wild and scenic landscape
and trout fishery values also to be recognised as
"outstanding" when the matter is reconsidered. Whitewater New
Zealand, a recreational kayaking group, wanted protection of
the "nationally outstanding" whitewater kayaking amenity
provided by the river.
No date has been set yet for the matter to be heard in the
Environment Court.
- lynda.van.kempen@odt.co.nz
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