MEDIA RELEASE

Whitebaiters cause damage in quest for white gold
For immediate release: Friday 1 September 2006

Bay of Plenty whitebaiters are urged not to damage river banks or tinker with flood protection works in their quest for the white gold.

Environment Bay of Plenty has already dealt with a few issues of this type since the start of the whitebait season in the region.

Works engineer Tony Dunlop says problems include people cutting steps into riverbanks or chopping down trees to gain access to their preferred spots. There have also been incidents where floodgates have been opened, he says.

Mr Dunlop says actions like this damage the environment and have the potential to create more risk in a flood situation.

“We ask people to treat protection works with care. They are community assets – everyone owns them – and everyone pays when they are damaged and need to be fixed.”

ENDS

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