Proposal could leave Masterton lakes as ‘stinking ponds’
Fears have been raised that two of Masterton’s lakes could end up as little more than dry beds under a proposal by Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Both Henley Lake and Queen Elizabeth Park’s Lake Of Remembrance could be under threat if the regional council’s Whaitua Committee proposal to restrict diverting water from the Upper Ruama¯ hanga and Waipoua rivers goes ahead. Both lakes rely heavily on water flow from the rivers.
Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson said the lakes were key parts of Masterton’s identity.
‘‘They have a really significant role in our community,’’ she said.
‘‘The community needs to know the impact reducing flows could have. If we cut the flows, the impact could be that our lakes are no longer lakes, but dry beds. What’s a lake if there’s no water in it?’’
He said the impact would be felt the most over summer, a time when the lakes would be subject to particularly heavy use.
‘‘We fully understand the need for the work the Whaitua is doing ... but the lakes have a strong cultural, social, recreational connection
‘‘What’s a lake if there’s no water in it?’’
Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson
with the community.’’
A catchment advisory group, the Ruama¯hanga Whaitua Committee has released several recommendations intended to promote the health of the region’s waterways. Along with increasing minimum flows, they also recommend stopping groundwater extraction from Wairarapa’s main rivers when water levels are below minimum flow.
It has proposed a 10-year timeframe for the recommendations to come into effect to give users time to prepare.
Doreen Jolly, from community group Friends Of The Park, said the effects on the lakes could prove catastrophic. ‘‘The flow will be cut drastically and there’s barely enough going in as it is,’’ she said.
‘‘Through the summer months the Lake Of Remembrance will become a stinking pond, a rubbish dump, a mess. It would be disastrous – we don’t think the regional council has taken into account just how much a part of Masterton that lake is.’’
Greater Wellington spokesman Clayton Anderson said locals were welcome to share their views on the subject. ‘‘The Ruama¯hanga Whaitua Committee are hosting three community meetings next week to talk with people in more detail about the draft proposals.
‘‘They want as much community feedback as possible before they finalise their recommendations to go to Greater Wellington Regional Council. Any decision on river-flow management will be made through considering community feedback, possible impacts on river users and the river ecology.
‘‘A vital part of the committee’s work is understanding people’s concerns and ideas so they encourage residents to attend the meetings next month."