Public ‘must help in early Waitaki plans’

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33965, 4 October 1975, Page 20

Public ‘must help in early Waitaki plans’

(From our Parliamentary reporter

WELLINGTON. Multiple uses of the lower Waitaki are in jeopardy unless the public is involved in the early planning, said the Opposition spokesman for the environment (Mr V. S. Young). “As yet there is no evidence of Labour enthusiasm for this proposal put forward by National Party spokesmen some months ago. I “Recent increases in the prices of oil and coal emphasise the value of New Zealand’s remaining hydro-elec-tricity potential. “There are, however, other values to be taken into account — irrigation, flood control, wildlife and fisheries, recreation. Only early public involvement in water resource planning can give these alternative interests any say.” On the Clutha development scheme nobody could deny that the views of the

Commission for the Environment were “utterly rejected.” “Even had the Government a concern in the more violent environmental results of its Clutha plans there was no time for the complete reappraisal of the development scheme suggested by the commission. The commission, however, is to be complimented for having had the guts to stand up in criticism of Government planning departments that obviously had the ear of Labour. “To avoid a similar occurrence on the lower Waitaki. environmental impacts should now be under preparation. To delay these until the projected development is imminent is only to repeat the mistakes of the Clutha. Local participation in planning water use must continue to local involvement in subsequent water allocation and management.” Not to involve the commission for the environment and local people at this stage of the planning for Lower Waitaki development could only invite the rejection of the principles of multiple use and the conservation of water resources, said Mr Young. There was no doubt that too many of New Zealand’s I hydro developments had given insufficient attention toi alternative requirements fori water use. “While I have the highest i regard for officers of the Ministry of Works and Development and of the Electricity Department, I consider there is a need for new dimensions in power planning. Unlike modern trends, I do not suggest bigger power schemes but rather smaller ones. Electricity generation which has almost become the sole prerogative of the Govem-

ment can be achieved quite satisfactorily on a smaller scale by local authorities. “Total energy installations must assume greater importance in power planning, particularly those that use indigenous fuels such as gas or coal. In total energy units these provide both heat and electricity. “Furthermore, there is no (reason why territorial local (authorities should not look at power generation as a byproduct of community responsibilities such as rubbish disposal—such systems work i,effectively overseas. Electricity generation has become (too much the prerogative of the Crown. ( “Likewise the sole use of New Zealand’s water resources is not wholly in the generation of electricity. “Procrastination over the (Clutha has left little opportunity for the Government to vary the scheme from that proposed before the audit by the Commission for the Environment. The commission was forced to suffer the ignominy of seeing its comments disregarded by a party that pretented it had an environmental stance. “Unfortunately, in reject-; ling the advice of the com-! (missioner the standing of the (commission under Labour (must be undermined. I “Under National, comprehensive environmental studies of river developments and, in particular, the major hydro scheme planned for the-lower Waitaki would start at an early stage in planning. Interested groups and individuals will have ample opportunity to ensure that the principal of multiple use of the waters of the lower Waitaki be followed, and that there is a long-term benefit for the area.”