Dunne: Fair review required for duck shooting on Pencarrow Lakes

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has called for a thorough review of the environmental impacts of duck shooting on the Pencarrow Lakes following the banning of duck shooters from using the lakes by the Port Nicholson Settlement Trustees.

“Presently we have a situation where one side claims that duck shooting is having a significant adverse environmental impact on the lakes, including the risk from didymo, while the other side is adamant that such impacts are negligible,” said Mr Dunne.

“Quite frankly I find the claim that there is a risk from didymo quite bizarre, the conditions that didymo requires to spread and survive just do not exist in the Pencarrow Lakes.”

“Such an argument if carried to its extreme would preclude the whole of the North Island from any freshwater recreational activities.”

“However, the most logical way through this stand-off is for all sides to agree that the shooters be allowed to use the lakes for the usual eight weekend season this year while a thorough investigation of the environmental impact of duck shooting is carried out both during and after the season.”

“The only way through the situation is a true evidence-based investigation that accurately and fairly evaluates the impacts of the shooters on the lakes and what steps need to be taken to mitigate or prevent any environmental impacts that exist.”

“This approach would ensure the intent of the Port Nicholson Block Settlement legislation that ‘a lawful right of access to , or use of, Lake Kohangatera or Lake Kohangapiripiri remains unaffected; and members of the public may carry out recreational activities’, will be honoured.”

“For the sake of only 8 weekends, merely 16 days a year, I would hope all interested parties could agree to this proposal as a way forward,” said Mr Dunne.

ENDS

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