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.
