Fish carcasses dumped in waterway ‘unacceptable’

Bin loads of filleted fish carcasses have been dumped at a New Plymouth beauty spot.

Roger Gordon, who often stops to look in the Te Henui Stream for signs of eels and trout, was horrified to make the discovery yesterday morning.

‘‘We usually look for anything that shows the rivers are regenerating and came across a couple of bin loads of filleted fish, heads, and bodies,’’ he said.

‘‘We’ve lived here forever and this is by far the worst thing I’ve seen done in terms of not looking after the environment and just no thought for anyone else.’’

The carcasses were dumped off a bridge that connects Fitzroy Bowling Club and New Plymouth Croquet Club.

The river mouth starts by East End Reserve and follows the popular Te Henui Walkway.

‘‘It’s an absolute disgrace that someone would do that here where everyone walks past,’’ Gordon said.

As a child he would raft down the stream but the water quality wasn’t safe enough to do that now, he said.

Taranaki Regional Council said it had been made aware of the incident.

‘‘They will be removed,’’ Taranaki Regional Council compliance manager Bruce Pope said in a statement. ‘‘Anyone seeing material being dumped into a waterway should call the Regional Council’s Environmental Hotline, 0800 736 222.’’

Director of environment quality for Taranaki Regional Council, Gary Bedford, said a small amount of dead fish in a stream would not have a significant environmental impact in most cases, but it was unacceptable behaviour.

‘‘Given the unsightliness and odour involved, it is inconsiderate behaviour that reduces amenity and aesthetic values.’’