Media release from Save Our River Trust

River Trust critical of Horizons report

The Chair of Foxton’s Save our River Trust (SoRT), Robin Hapi said a meeting of over 70 members, supporters and other interested people on Sunday 25 March was highly critical of the recent Horizons report investigating the feasibility of reopening the Foxton Loop.

“The report bears little resemblance to what we requested and what we understood Council’s staff has been working on for the past 3 years,” said Mr Hapi.

Staff were instructed by the Horizons’ Strategy & Policy Committee on 14 April 2009 to report on the most practical way of increasing the upstream flow of river water into the top end of the loop and to provide cost estimates to achieve and maintain that.

“What the report does is develop a proposition for directing the majority of river flow around the Foxton Loop and the creation of a weir at a cost of millions of dollars,” said Mr Hapi. “We have never sought this. That particular notion is irrelevant as are the implications and fanciful cost analyses.”

However, the report does suggest that a navigable channel is possible but would be very difficult to maintain because of slow water velocities. SoRT accepts that suggestion and that any channel will require ongoing maintenance.

A SoRT report to Sunday’s meeting pointed out that the river loop was denied a constant water flow when the course of the Manawatu River was inadvertently changed by Government in the early 1940’s. It was further compounded with the creation of the Moutoa Floodway scheme in 1962.

Neither of these initiatives was for the direct benefit of the Community of Foxton but for those upstream of our town to assist with the quick escape of flood waters” said Mr Hapi. “However the consequences have been disastrous for our town” he said. “We now have alerts posted along the verge of our loop warning people away from what was once the playground for our children, a food basket for our community and the pride of our people”.

“The Manawatu River Loop at Foxton has become a convenient backwash for those upstream and the 70 or so people present at Sundays meeting feel cheated and disrespected” he said.

SoRT members expect Horizons the so called Guardians of our environment to take responsibility for this waterway and help right the wrongs caused by previous managers of our river.

“Many at the SoRT meeting were fearful that the Horizons report was designed to be rubber stamped by Councillors but given there is a large and growing body of contrary views and opposition we are confident members of HRC will now take time to reflect on what was requested and what has been delivered”, said Mr Hapi

Mr Hapi confirmed that “SoRT will be seeking a high level meeting with Horizons to discuss the analysis of the Horizons report and constructive ways to move forward. “We think it is time for action and we are offering the HRC an opportunity to do that in a positive way.”

ENDS

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