Ecology advice not wanted

Press, 26 February 1977, Page 2

Ecology advice not wanted

Members of the North Canterbury Catchment Board see little point in any special committee to study the ecological effect of the proposed diversion of the Wilberforce River. When the Commission for the Environment reported last year on considerations to apply to diverting the Wilberforce to increase water-flow to the Lake Coleridge power station, it said that a committee should be set up to advise on environmental and ecological aspects. However, when the water committee of the Catchment Board yesterday discussed the recommendation, no-one could see much point in setting up a committee to do what the board itself has to do.

Mr D. B. Dallas said that the board, in setting conditions for the Electricity Department’s water right, had covered the questions the committee would deal with.

I “The committee would *have merit when the scheme [comes into operation,” said [the District Commissioner of Works and Development (Mr P. F. Reynolds). “There would not be much point in it operating before then. The diversion should be finished by November, and we will soon call tenders for a tunnel from the lake to the power-house. As the lake will be kept at an artificially low level during this work, conditions are abnormal and will not recur.” The chairman (Dr W. R. Holmes) said that the board, in its conditions, had tried to “nail down" the main problem of turbidity in the lake. There was nothing to stop those concerned from setting up a committee, which could meet the board.

The water committee recommended the board to take the question up with the National Water and Soil Conservation Organisation.