River water grab ‘slap in face’

A decision that allows the diversion of more Rangitata River water to a major irrigation scheme has been labelled a ‘‘slap in the face’’ by Central South Island Fish and Game.

An Environment Canterbury (ECan) independent hearing has granted the Rangitata Diversion Race Management (RDRML) irrigation scheme consent to take an additional 10 cubic metres of water per second when the river is at high flows.

The hearing commissioners – Paul Rogers, Yvette Couch-Lewis and Greg Burrell – said the extra

10 cumecs can be taken when flows exceed 142.6 cumecs.

At flows between 132.6 and

142.6 cumecs, water can be taken provided it does not drop flows below 132.6 cumecs. No extra water is to be taken when river flows are below 132.6 cumecs.

RDRML also received consent to construct a major water storage system for up to 53 million cubic metres.

The Rangitata Diversion Race intake structure is located on the true left bank of the Rangitata River, and diverts water from the river into the scheme’s canal servicing Mid-Canterbury farms. Currently it can take up to 30 cumecs when the river flows over 60 cumecs. According to ECan, the mean flow of the Rangitata River is 96.2 cumecs and the median flow is 74.4 cumecs.

RDRML’s proposal to extend its water take was opposed by dozens of individuals and groups, including Forest & Bird, Ngai Tahu and Central South Island Fish and Game.

Several submitters in opposition said the river was already impacted by water takes and that no more should be abstracted.

CSI Fish and Game chief executive Jay Graybill said the decision was a real setback for the environment.

‘‘This is a real slap in the face for all those dedicated anglers . . . who spent hours writing submissions and put themselves on the line by submitting at the hearing to defend the river they love,’’ he said. ‘‘These high flows are vital to the Rangitata and allowing more water to be taken out of this treasured river poses a very real risk to environmental health.’’

Graybill was surprised the consents had been granted, particularly given that RDR did not ‘‘clearly identify the use of the water’’.

The Rangitata River is subject to a water conservation order that provides recognition of the outstanding amenity or intrinsic values of the water bodies. Despite the mass opposition to the consent, the hearings panel decided ‘‘given the information presented to us, we are inclined to agree with RDRML’s assessment that the proposed 10 cumecs take will not adversely affect biological communities due to sediment impacts’’.

The panel also did not agree with CSI Fish and Game officer Mark Webb’s concern that the extra 10 cumecs would adversely affect fishing conditions.

‘‘That is because the proposed take will occur at flows that are already deemed to be higher than preferred, due to poor water clarity.’’