Conflict over water needs

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33938, 3 September 1975, Page 10

Conflict over water needs

(New Zealand Press Association) ** WELLINGTON. Long-term water needs of the farming industry were being neglected, said Mr T. D. Helier, of the Agricultural Engineering Institute, Lincoln.

Conflicting water needs for recreation, hydro-electric power and farming were being resolved in ‘favour of electricity.

Mr Helier said that farming interest groups were at a disadvantage because it was difficult to obtain a concensus in farming and planning in the industry was a problem. On the other hand powerinterest groups could p ! power needs accurately. Th.a enabled them to present their case convincingly. “Although the recreation lobby also lacks technical data, they have pressed their interests successfully. This is because various small and fragmented groups have had the publicity to influence the political process.

“The distribution problem is compounded by the fact that regional water boards, which decide the allocation of water, lack administrative and technological capability.”

According to Mr Helier, the needs of each sector should be thoroughly investigated before water allocations are decided. “These studies should be carried out by an independent body, which would examine the development options in line with regional and national needs,” he said.