Nature Council On Manapouri

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32352, 18 July 1970, Page 44

Nature Council On Manapouri

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 17. All the areas of shoreline round Lake Manapouri which were not vertical should receive priority shoreline treatment, the Commission of Inquiry into the proposed raising of the lake level was told today.

The chairman of the Nature Conservation Council, Dr R. A. Falla, said that all the arms of the lake should be given priority, not just the heads of each.

The council, he said, believed priority treatment should apply to about twice the acreage of shoreline already proposed. The council would probably welcome the idea of two methods, burning and sinking, being used in clearing the shoreline if the lake level were raised.

As recently as March this year, said the council in its submission, it still held the opinion that no further reliable evidence had been brought up to refute pre-viously-reached conclusions. “The weight of evidence indicates that natural fea-

tures of shoreline and adjacent country cannot be maintained or restored if the range of lake-level manipulation exceeds the naturally-fluctuat-ing range.” Dr Falla said. The Auckland Institute and Museum said it was concerned at the possible effect of raising the lake level. It supported the Nature Conservation Council in trying to persuade the Government to examine every possible alternative. The Lands and Survey Department’s director of parks and reserves (Mr P. H. Lucas) told the commission about Laka Buttle in British Columbia being raised 27 feet in the mid-19505. Shoreline treatment there had cost $5 million but “the result was a mess.” “What 1 saw and learned at Lake Buttle,” said Mr Lucas, “was a clear warning to me that even special shoreline treatment at high cost was a poor substitute for a natural lake-shore, and that stumping was essential to ameliorate the worst effects where lake levels are raised.” When Lake Buttle was drawn down, it revealed an ugly mass of stumps. It was apparent that wave-action had washed away soil from round the stumps, which had increased the height of stumps exposed. Partiallysubmerged stumps were visible above the water. The inquiry resumes on Tuesday.