Higher water gradings urged by board

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33625, 29 August 1974, Page 16

Higher water gradings urged by board

Objections to many of the preliminary 7 classifications were made by the North Canterbury Catchment Board in its submissions on water purity standards to the Water Resources Council yesterday.

It will be the board’s job to see that classifications are complied Iwith.

The board wanted the highest classification for mountain land above 3000 ft and including the Arthur’s Pass National Park (but not the township), the Lake Sumner Park, the Lewis Pass scenic reserves and forest reserves.

It would be expected, said Mr H. E. Connor, for the board, that on this land a national policy on natural water would seek to maintain and promote this value. The national interest in the natural quality of mountain water was already established.

The board, he said, could

not foresee any particular difficulty in managing class A waters. Considerable control existed already, and the agencies concerned could control land use so that it was compatible with class A requirements.

“We completely reject the concept that the presence of people damages natural water," said Mr Connor.

The board also asked for . A instead of C classification ’ for Lakes Coleridge, Sumner, and Mason, and Vagabond’s Inn — described as a unique lake in the Upper Waimaka- , riri catchment that the Lands and Survey Department had been asked to declare as a special reserve because of its unusual invertebrate fauna. For 24 other lakes, the board wanted an X classification, to indicate that they were in danger of enrichment. Higher classifications were also sought for waters in the upper Selwyn River catchment, and tor streams and springs used for water supplies on Banks Peninsula. No provision had been made for these supplies. MUDFLATS The mudflats of Lyttelton and Akaroa harbours should have an X classification because they were “sensitive,” and the board, said Mr Connor, was concerned that limited provision had been made for the control of bacteriological pollution in the Estuary and in Lyttelton and Akaroa harbours. Public health and aesthetic reasons called for bacteriological standards. He had been dismayed to hear one witness say that public opinion was a fickle thing, said a board member, Mr J. M. Pickering. "If the public is not with you, there is no chance of improving this situation," he said. “Too low a classification will not help.

"Our object is exactly the same — we differ somewhat in how to take action,” said the council’s chairman (Mr B. W. Spooner). Conflicting views on standards for the Halswell River were given by Dr I. Weatherall for the Tai Tapu Residents’ Association, and by the Tai Tapu and Districts branch of Federated Farmers.

Residents wanted higher standards to maintain the Halswell for increasing recreational use. The farmers asked for the classification to be retained, as pollution had been reduced and the water was satisfactory to all users. OPPOSITION

North Canterbury Federated Farmers opposed any up-grading of the preliminary classifications. This, it was submitted, was particularly the case with class D waters, which by definition were sufficiently pure for all i practical purposes, and for the maintenance of fish. “It is important that w’e are duty bound to put across to the public what we are trying to do,” said Mr Spooner, closing the hearings. “We must resolve any difficulties and still attain the same objectives.”