A decision on a low flow for the Waipahi River in South Otago
could be a disaster and totally against Fish and Game Otago's
clients' interests, its chairman, John Barlow, says.
A report on an application by the Clutha District Council on
behalf of the Waipahi rural community to take water from the
river was considered by the council last week.
Fish and Game environmental officer John Hollows said while
the majority of the proposed take was for stock water, there
was an undisclosed amount for dairy shed and other uses.
The council had presented evidence at the hearing asking for
a minimum flow of 584 litres per second and the Otago
Regional Council for 330 litres per second.
Fish and Game's suggested level would mean stock water would
be unavailable for, on average, only six days in a one-in-50
year low-flow event, he said.
In that situation, a farmer should have enough stored stock
water.
At the meeting, Mr Hollows said the regional council hearing
panel's decision on the application had just arrived with a
recommendation of a 200-litre per second low flow, but he had
not had time to analyse the decision.
Cr Donald Scott said the Waipahi was a high status brown
trout, fly fishery.
If future global warming caused flows to reduce and
temperatures to increase, conditions could be very bad for
trout.
Cr Monty Wright said the river had deteriorated in the past
two years and the "fishing had gone backwards".
Mr Barlow said given the importance of the river, it should
be one of the council's "bottom lines" and he did not want to
see the flow drop below a proposed national standard.
"With the huge demands and other risks, we can't go along
with that. It's totally against our clients' interests."
Fish and Game chief executive Niall Watson said the council
could appeal the decision if it thought it was too low.
It had until December 11 to make an appeal.
Councillors agreed to hold a teleconference on December 8 to
consider a staff report on what further action to take.
rebecca.fox@odt.co.nz
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