Takaka springs submission ‘scandalous’
A campaigner fighting to save a famous freshwater springs has slammed the Tasman District Council’s (TDC) submission to the Environment Court, which he says seeks a higher nitrate limit.
Save Our Springs co-ordinator Kevin Moran has labelled the council submission appealing a Water Conservation Order for Te Waikoropupu¯ Springs in Golden Bay ‘‘scandalous’’ and says he’s considering legal action against it.
However, the council has said it’s not seeking a higher nitrate limit – but following the law, which says a WCO only allows an order to be made to protect what is currently there, in its current state.
The nitrate level readings at the springs are currently higher than the recommended limit.
The council is one of 10 parties to have lodged appeals with the Environment Court over a special tribunal’s report recommending the springs’ protection.
After a hearing in 2018, the special tribunal released its report in March recommending the order be granted.
In its submission to the Environment Court, the council has asked for the removal of the 0.44 mg/l safe nitrate limit set by the special tribunal.
At present, nitrate levels measured at the springs are averaging 0.52 mg/l.
It is believed that high nitrate levels may damage the organisms that live in the aquifer.
The council has asked for the limit to be set at the level that nitrate levels read when the water conservation order would be made law – instead of the 0.44 mg/l recommended limit.
Just three years ago, Moran said the nitrate level at the springs were 0.4 mg/l but had risen to 0.52 mg/l in a ‘‘steady upward trend’’. ‘‘Over and over again, I’ve written to the TDC warning them what’s going on and asking them to act urgently. They have done absolutely nothing to work with farmers to lower nitrate levels.
‘‘It’s absolutely scandalous,’’ Moran said.
Moran said the council wanted to ditch the 0.44 mg/l limit and get rid of the three-year wait.
But the council’s communications adviser Chris Choat said he ‘‘could not reiterate enough’’ how much the council wanted the springs to be protected, just like Moran. However, any WCO had to be practically implementable with the freshwater management plan.’’