Outstanding River A Step Closer To Protection

Otago Fish and Game welcomes the Environment Court’s majority decision in favour of a complete prohibition on damming on one of New Zealand’s most outstanding wild and scenic rivers – the Nevis – which is currently protected by Water Conservation Order (WCO).

Chief executive Niall Watson says the Court’s decision on an application to amend the Kawarau WCO (under which the Nevis River is safeguarded) gives a very high level of protection to the Nevis’ angling amenity and its other outstanding natural and recreational values including kayaking.

“This recognises the high value placed on the river by the community and the efforts of groups and individuals from across the country in supporting the application through the hearing process,” says Mr Watson.

“The decision retains the recent recognition of outstanding characteristics including rare native galaxiid fish unique to the Nevis. The decision extends recognition of the river landscape downstream of Nevis Crossing by defining it as wild and scenic rather than just ‘wild’.”

Mr Watson points out that the decision is also important in protecting the main low-gradient river reach upstream from Nevis Crossing: “That is the most popular area for angling and the most productive reach of the river from the point of view of the trout fishery.

“It also protects the river fishery amenity downstream of the Crossing.”

Mr Watson add that it is important to remember that in a separate but related decision of the Environment Court the whole Nevis Valley has been recognised as an ‘outstanding natural landscape’ in the Central Otago District Plan – this was agreed by all parties.

“All this adds to the Nevis’s reputation as a unique recreational area and outdoor natural history museum – it is now up to the Environment Minister to decide whether it will be preserved in perpetuity for all New Zealanders.”

The Court’s decision was not unanimous, with Judge Jackson in a minority decision recommending the opportunity for a small dam below the Crossing be retained with tight controls on landscape and recreational flows for kayaking. However, Fish &Game would anticipate that the majority decision be given effect with complete protection ordered.

The decision signals the end of a hearing process started in 2006 with an application for a variation to the Kawarau WCO to add protection to the Nevis River in the face of increasing interest in a hydro-electric power generation.

The Court’s recommendation will now go to Minister for the Environment Amy Adams for a final decision.

Water Conservation Order (WCO) facts:
• Water Conservation Orders (WCOs) are described as the ‘National Parks of waterways’.
• A WCO is New Zealand's highest level of protection that can be afforded to a body of freshwater.
• There are just 15 WCO-protected water bodies in the country.
• Fish & Game and its licenced anglers and hunters, along with conservation organisations and Iwi, have spent millions of dollars to safeguard some of the country’s most outstanding waterways through WCO applications.
• This has enabled the protection of highly-valued sport fisheries (such as trout and salmon), habitat of native species and freshwater-based recreation for all New Zealanders.
• The Government is proposing major changes to the RMA which will have a significant impact on the future of WCOs.

For more information on Water Conservation Orders visit: www.outstandingrivers.org.nz

ENDS

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