Low river levels upset residents

The Waiau Rivercare Group says the Government’s national policy on freshwater management is an environmental disaster.

Group member Claire Jordan said the draft statement would have dire consequences for the Waiau River, near Tuatapere in Southland, because it had not been included in the freshwater management plan.

The group was formed to protect the lower river catchment and members have concerns about the low levels of the river and how it is being managed.

Most of the water from the lower Waiau River, once referred to as the ‘‘Mighty Waiau River’’, is diverted through the West Arm Power Station, located at the head of Lake Manapo¯ uri.

Ministry for the Environment water director Martin Workman said the Waiau was subject to the current national policy statement on freshwater management and the new policy statement.

‘‘A policy proposal relating to six major hydro schemes, including the Manapo¯ uri, gives regional councils the option to set objectives for water quality below bottom lines if that is necessary to secure the benefits of hydroelectricity generation.’’

The Government was seeking feedback on this proposal, Workman said.

Three public meetings had been held in the South Island this week and the status of hydro schemes came up at a public meeting in Dunedin, he said.

Jordan said the Manapo¯uri power scheme was unique as it took up to 95 per cent of the catchment’s water and discharged it out to the ocean at Deep Cove.

‘‘Unlike most hydro schemes, Meridian [Energy] doesn’t return the water to the Waiau River after generating power, but discharges it deep into Fiordland.

‘‘The problem is because all of that water gets taken out of the catchment, there’s a trickle that’s left at the Waiau River, particularly in the summer, and it means that it’s highly sedimented.

‘‘We don’t get the cold pristine alpine lake water from Manapo¯ uri that we used to get. The water temperature also gets higher, which provides the perfect temperature for algal bloom.’’

Southland District mayor Gary Tong said no further degradation should be allowed. ‘‘The focus must be on re-establishing this valuable ecosystem.’’