‘Heartbreaking’: materials dumped in southern stream

An investigation is under way into a "heartbreaking" environmental breach after materials from a power pole installation were dumped in a Southland waterway.

The matter relates to a controversial PowerNet project on the outskirts of Invercargill where 21m-high power poles are being installed along a 19.5km route from Awarua to a city substation.

A spokesperson for PowerNet, the company responsible for the installation, said some items were temporarily placed in a culvert for safety reasons, but these would not have caused adverse effects on the environment.

Motu Rimu Rd resident Jacques Nel did not have a problem with the lines going in, but said he was upset to find materials left in a waterway near his property, which is home to a range of fish.

Large metal structures appeared last week, and were confirmed by the regional council to have caused a breach.

The creek was tidal, and home to a range of wildlife including eels, trout, herons and spoonbill, he said.

"At the end of the day, it’s heartbreaking to see something you’ve looked after that’s getting destroyed by muck and [what] looks like cement on top of the water."

He tried to avoid things such as pesticides on his farm and believed the creek’s ecosystem was relatively healthy.

"People should think before they do things, because there’s someone that’s responsible for this."

The structures were removed earlier this week, and PowerNet said it had not left any materials in or near a stream that could adversely affect the environment.

"A metal pole liner and mesh frame were temporarily placed in the culvert alongside Motu Rimu Rd to keep them off the road for safety purposes," a spokesperson said.

"We will take any action needed to make sure natural ecosystems are not damaged or negatively impacted by our work wherever necessary. In this instance, no action is required."

In relation to Mr Nel’s concern cement had been dumped, PowerNet said some of the material they had dug up was a sandy grey clay which had that appearance.

Environment Southland senior scientist Katie Blakemore said most of New Zealand’s native fish were migratory and it was common for tidal streams to have a high level of diversity.

• LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.