Alan Liefting
2004-09-09 22:08:46 UTC
Dear Paddlers,
An application has been made by Majac Trust to vary the Buller Water
Conservation Order, to allow for a run of the river power scheme to be
constructed on the Gowan River.
The Buller WCO was (hard) won by Fish and Game, DoC, NZRCA, Maruia
Society and other parties, in order to safeguard for future generations
the natural flows of the Buller and its (designated) tributaries, in
recognition of its status as a nationally outstanding river for its
kayaking, rafting, fishery, and habitat for other indigenous species.
The Gowan is one of the important tributaries of the Buller River. It's
consistent, lake-fed fast flowing water is unique in this catchment and
NZ. The river can be paddled from its source in Lake Rotoroa, is a
beautiful trip, and plays and integral part of any source to sea journey
down the Buller. The Gowan is a major tributary to the Buller catchment
which is one of the few remaining, largely unmodified, large river
catchments in NZ. Other catchments of a similar size such as the Clutha,
and the Waikato, are now very modified.
The proposed scheme is a run of river scheme. which involves extraction
of up to 2/3rds of the flow from the Gowan, use of the water to generate
power, and then release back into the Gowan. The applicants are
suggesting a phone system be set up where by rafters (and hopefully
kayakers) can dial an automatic service if they are planning a trip on
the Gowan, and the automatic system will ensure that the natural flow is
returned to the river for several hours to allow the trip to take place.
Submissions on the application to change the Order are due in by the
17th September. The NZRCA will be lodging a submission, objecting to the
changes.
If you would like to lodge a submission also, and would like more
information, please check www.mfe.govt.nz, and search for "Gowan" and
you will find more information, and submission forms (Form 30). You can
also email Maree Baker directly at ***@paradise.net.nz with any
questions (South Island Conservation Officer). Maree will also be
emailing out a draft submission form for you to cut and paste into your
own submission later this week. If you would like to be on the mailing
list for this, please let her know."
This proposal to amend a WCO is a challenge to the integrity of the
Buller catchment, and could undo a lot of the hard work undertaken to
protect it. The values of the catchment and the Gowan are still
outstanding, and need the level of protection the WCO currently
provides. We need to take a stand and defend what we previously
achieved, otherwise those efforts will be wasted.
for NZRCA
***@rivers.org.nz
www.rivers.org.nz
An application has been made by Majac Trust to vary the Buller Water
Conservation Order, to allow for a run of the river power scheme to be
constructed on the Gowan River.
The Buller WCO was (hard) won by Fish and Game, DoC, NZRCA, Maruia
Society and other parties, in order to safeguard for future generations
the natural flows of the Buller and its (designated) tributaries, in
recognition of its status as a nationally outstanding river for its
kayaking, rafting, fishery, and habitat for other indigenous species.
The Gowan is one of the important tributaries of the Buller River. It's
consistent, lake-fed fast flowing water is unique in this catchment and
NZ. The river can be paddled from its source in Lake Rotoroa, is a
beautiful trip, and plays and integral part of any source to sea journey
down the Buller. The Gowan is a major tributary to the Buller catchment
which is one of the few remaining, largely unmodified, large river
catchments in NZ. Other catchments of a similar size such as the Clutha,
and the Waikato, are now very modified.
The proposed scheme is a run of river scheme. which involves extraction
of up to 2/3rds of the flow from the Gowan, use of the water to generate
power, and then release back into the Gowan. The applicants are
suggesting a phone system be set up where by rafters (and hopefully
kayakers) can dial an automatic service if they are planning a trip on
the Gowan, and the automatic system will ensure that the natural flow is
returned to the river for several hours to allow the trip to take place.
Submissions on the application to change the Order are due in by the
17th September. The NZRCA will be lodging a submission, objecting to the
changes.
If you would like to lodge a submission also, and would like more
information, please check www.mfe.govt.nz, and search for "Gowan" and
you will find more information, and submission forms (Form 30). You can
also email Maree Baker directly at ***@paradise.net.nz with any
questions (South Island Conservation Officer). Maree will also be
emailing out a draft submission form for you to cut and paste into your
own submission later this week. If you would like to be on the mailing
list for this, please let her know."
This proposal to amend a WCO is a challenge to the integrity of the
Buller catchment, and could undo a lot of the hard work undertaken to
protect it. The values of the catchment and the Gowan are still
outstanding, and need the level of protection the WCO currently
provides. We need to take a stand and defend what we previously
achieved, otherwise those efforts will be wasted.
for NZRCA
***@rivers.org.nz
www.rivers.org.nz