Ellesmere plea fails

Press, 19 August 1977, Page 17

Ellesmere plea fails

Lack of finance is stopping the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society from appealing against a water right to discharge treated sewage effluent into Lake Ellesmere — even though it says that there may be no fish and game left in the lake in a few years. The right was granted by a special tribunal of the Regional Water Boards to allow the Ellesmere County Council to ratify the existing discharge of effluent from the Lincoln townships’ treatment plant into Lake Ellesmere, via the L2 River. Although the Acclimatisation Society objected to this application during the hearing, its plea was not sustained. The tribunal went ahead and passed the council’s application to discharge effluent at a maximum of 12 litres per second — subject to a special condition that the right be for only two years, instead of the 10 years sought. Doctor I. D. Blair, at a meeting of the Acclimatisation Society, said that society regarded Lake Ellesmere as of both regional and national importance as a wildlife habitat, trout fishery, and recreational area. The discharge would de-

grade the water further, and have a detrimental effect on life in the lake. “This calls for an appeal, but the society is not in the position financially to go to appeal,” he said. “This is a critical problem, and it is very regrettable that we cannot afford an appeal.” The society’s chairman (Mr B. O. Williams) said that unless Lake Ellesmere had water of a reasonable quality, there would be no fish or game left in a few years. “However, the society just cannot face up to the costs involved in an appeal.” Doctor Blair said that he sympathised with the Ellesmere County Council, because it had been “saddled with an inadequate plant.” The discharge plant had been designed to dispose of waste from small dairy farms, but was now disposing of nutrients from a small country town. Mr Williams said that one advantage was that the right had been given only for two years, instead of the 10 asked for.

“We will continue to object. Whether we win or lose, we will still have made a point.” Mr Williams will raise the point at the South Island executive meeting.