Tim Ryan and Amy Morrison, who have organised the Upper
Clutha River Guardians society, which is against dams on
the Clutha River. Photo by Matthew Haggart.
Momentum is gathering to protect the Clutha River from
dams and a new lobby group in Wanaka is the latest protest
initiative with that aim.
Tim Ryan and Amy Morrison are two Wanaka residents
spearheading the recently formed Upper Clutha River
Guardians.
The group intends to liaise with other river-protectionist
lobby groups in the region.
The Guardians became an incorporated society yesterday and Mr
Ryan said more than 30 people had already signed up as
members.
The group is against power company Contact Energy's decision
to revisit proposals for building dams on the river for
hydro-electricity generation.
Mr Ryan said, as a growing youth, he had seen the Clutha
River "destroyed" when the Clyde dam was built.
"I don't ever want to see that happen again."
Ms Morrison said dams were an outdated technology and there
were better alternatives for power generation.
"This is an issue on so many levels . . . We should be
protecting our natural resources and looking towards a
sustainable future," she said.
The pair are confident of establishing a groundswell of
support in the Upper Clutha district among individuals who
oppose the prospect of dams on the river.
"There are more reasons not to have dams than there is to
build them," Mr Ryan said.
The society is planning to hold its inaugural meeting towards
the end of July, he said.
It will elect an executive committee and implement a
constitution, before seeking funding.
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