Submitters back river protection

The Lindis River, here  in spring condition, is likely to dry up in the height of summer. Photo...
The Lindis River, here in spring condition, is likely to dry up in the height of summer. Photo by Mark Price.

Plans by the Otago Regional Council to limit the amount of water that can be taken from the Lindis River has drawn more support than opposition.

However, most of the 81 groups and individuals who have submitted on the council's plan change 5A, which would establish minimum flows for the Lindis, want parts of it amended.

The plan applies to the Lindis catchment in the Bendigo-Tarras Basin, including the Ardgour Valley, Bendigo and Lower Tarras aquifers.

Many of those supporting the council's overall approach in setting a minimum flow level and restricting irrigation take referred to the river drying up in the summer.

Esther Whitehead, of Queenstown, submitted that irrigation had become ''so detrimental'' there was little left of the natural ecosystem in summer months.

Tania Seward, of Christchurch, said a minimum flow would ensure the ''longevity of this vital river system''.

''To have the Lindis not able to flow the whole way along its length in summer is negatively affecting the environment.''

Hugh van Noorden, of Christchurch, said there was a need to ''sustain the environmental integrity of the river as a living corridor, not as a mere seasonal drain''.

Christine Rose, of Kumeu, said the minimum flow should be a ''conservative limit'' that maintained the river at levels ''sufficient to protect and enhance its life-supporting capacity''.

''Lindis has a special and rare quality in an important ecological setting and landscape.''

And Ian Cole, of Wanaka, said the full fish-spawning potential of the Lindis had been ''historically compromised'' by depleted flows.

''The local and wider communities of the area have an historic opportunity to restore river flows to more environmentally sustainable levels.''

The Department of Conservation supported a minimum flow and irrigation limits.

Its submission noted longfin eels and common and upland bullies were present in the main stem of the Lindis, with the ''nationally critical'' Clutha flathead galaxias in some tributaries.

Contact Energy supported the plan change, saying water from the catchment was ''severely over-allocated''.

Those the council considered in ''general opposition'' to the change included the Point Partnership.

It called for amendments, saying the change ''will not achieve the purpose'' required by the Resource Management Act and other regulations.

The Point Partnership submitted the plan change was inconsistent with the Government's national policy statement for freshwater management, which ''supports the use of reasonable adjustment timeframes and requires the use of the best available information and scientific and socio-economic knowledge''.

John Davis, of Wanaka, wanted to amend the plan to provide ''a much more holistic approach''.

The plan change ''will not enable people and communities to provide for social and economic wellbeing, as provided for in the RMA.

''The effect of this change to the Tarras district and community will be severe and long-lasting.''

Timburn Ltd submitted the Lindis played ''a huge part'' in farming, and a ''fair outcome'' of the plan change should enable

farmers to carry on without being ''pushed into financial hardship''.

Malvern Downs Ltd submitted the council had not met its planning responsibilities.

''Full consideration of the community's identified values must be provided for, specifically those relating to the availability of water for irrigation during the growing season.''

Tim Davis, of Cromwell, said the Otago Fish and Game Council and the Lindis Catchment group had been involved in a series of ''think tanks'' where flow-management solutions were talked about.

''None of these provisions and transitions has been inserted into [the proposed plan],'' he submitted.

''The Otago Regional Council should look at all options to increase the values, not just a blunt instrument such as a minimum flow.

''The Lindis catchment is one of the driest catchments in the country and needs a flow-management regime that recognises this,'' Mr Davis said. Some farmers in the Tarras district take irrigation water from the Lindis River under historic mining privileges, or ''deemed permits''.

The Resource Management Act allows this situation to continue, unless compensation is made, until they expire in 2021.

The permits can, however, be converted to resource consents voluntarily before they expire.

mark.price@odt.co.nz

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