Island venue for Waitaki River Celebration

The Waitaki River’s ecological diversity and landscapes will be celebrated at a special event this Saturday, November 28, from noon onwards.

The Waitaki River Celebration is also a way to thank everyone who has been involved with the Lower Waitaki River Management Society, chairman Bill Penno says. It’s the first event of its kind to be organised by the society, which was formed in 2004 after Meridian Energy’s Project Aqua hydro project was shelved.

“It’s been a very busy year for the society with projects promoting wetland protection and river access and an Environment Court hearing. So, this is a way for us to say thank you to members and the wider community and to highlight the special character of the Waitaki River.”

The society appealed the consents granted to Meridian Energy for its $1 billion North Bank Tunnel Scheme on the river mid this year. As a result, an Environment Court hearing made changes to consent conditions and wants better protection for wetlands and endangered braided river birds. It also requires Meridian to work with interested parties to better mitigate some of the tunnel’s environmental impacts on the river.

Environment Canterbury chairman Alec Neill said the Lower Waitaki group were a great example of how a collaborative community effort could work to achieve practical goals like better river access and wetlands protection. “This group has brought together a wealth of knowledge about the river, its cultural and biodiversity values and the people and organisations which benefit from it. That was a huge advantage going into their Environment Court case mid year.”

The celebration starts at noon and is open to everyone. People just need to meet on the Kurow Island (in-between the two bridges) and bring their own picnic.

The programme includes a talk by Nick Ledgard about river nesting birds and a chance to go bird watching, a farmer’s story on stream enhancement by Colin Patterson of Harts Creek in Central Canterbury (Colin will also read some of his poems) and a look at the fish of the Waitaki with Central South Island Fish and Game officer Graeme Hughes.

Anna te Maiharoa Dodds will also be taking part, demonstrating harakeke (flax) weaving and the Kurow Town Enhancement Group will be running a guided tour of the improvement work that is now under way on the island.

Background:

See: http://ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/water-projects/integrated-catchment/Pages/lower-waitaki.aspx

The Lower Waitaki River Management Society was formed in July 2004, soon after the shelving of Meridian Energy’s proposed Project Aqua hydro-electricity project, to prepare a community-based management plan for the Lower Waitaki River, using the principles of Integrated Catchment Management. The group has been facilitated by Environment Canterbury, and is made up of a broad cross-section of individuals and organisations with an interest in the Lower Waitaki River - landholders, irrigation companies, recreational users, Waitaha, community representatives and the Waitaki District Council.

The group’s Lower Waitaki River Management Plan benefited from input through a series of public meetings featuring specialist speakers from a range of fields including braided river ecology, geomorphology, ecology, irrigation, weed control, as well as information on access, land tenure, ownership and existing management. In addition to scientific information, all individuals and organisations with an interest in the future management of the Lower Waitaki River were invited to provide their views. Consequently, members of the Lower Waitaki River Management Society are well-informed around sustainability issues facing the river and community aspirations.

ENDS

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