Board Sets Conditions For Natural Water Use

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31832, 9 November 1968, Page 16

Board Sets Conditions For Natural Water Use

The North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday approved in principle a basis tor conditions applying to rights in respect of natural water.

Many members agreed that the.most important of these was that the water rights granted tor irrigation should be for a period of not greater than five years at any one time, and then to be reviewed. . Another of the natural water right conditions was that the right, when granted, was not to be used for any other purpose than that which was expressly stated. During the currency of the grant, the board' would reserve the right to specify the times and periods in which water might be taken and to vary the quantity of water which might be taken. The chairman of the board’s water committee (Mr H. E. Connor) told the board that many people had probably not been using natural water lawfully. McLean’s island The board also, decided to implement a development scheme at McLean's Island to help reduce the fire danger to the board’s investment there, and to also reduce the

fire hazard to the picnicking public. The chairman of the board's reserves committee (Mr N. S. Coad), who outlined the proposal, said the board had an investment of about 8130,000 on the island. On an occasion when there had been a fire in the area, there were about 200 picnickers.

Fortunately the fire had been discovered early in the day, the day was calm and not very much damage had been done.

Included in the development scheme were recommendations to make firebreaks, for the base of, a roadwayX and that certain timber be cleared. The fire, said Mr Coad, had been taken as a clear warning. Two of the main purposes of the development plan, were to provide good access into the area, and out- of it, for both fire fighters and the public. Restoring existing firebreaks was fairly expensive, said Mr Coad, but not as expensive as a major fire in terms of the board’s investment in the area and in the terms of public safety.