Habitat threat

Press, 6 August 1981, Page 22

Habitat threat

The fate of wetlands birdlife threatened by a drain through the North Ashley river estuary has led the Canterbuy branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society to seek legal advice on making the North Canterbury Catchment Board undo its work.

A spokesman for the society, Mr B. Calder, said that the Catchment Board drain could dry up the natural habitat of small populations of bittern and marsh crake. The society questioned the drain's legality and he criticised the board for not preparing an environmental impact report before digging started. The 6km drain, dug on behalf of the Hurunui County

Council, runs from Leithfieid Beach through farms to the Crown-owned estuary at Saltwater Creek.

The society will appeal to the Commissioner of Crown Lands this week to salvage the natural state of the Crown-owned land.

“It may be a hard thing to do. but we think that the drain should be filled in and another route discussed,” said Mr Calder.

Two legal points which:the society questioned were whether the board notified the Marine division of the Ministry of Transport about its work below high tide mark and the drain deviation from the original line to cover an extra 450 m of estuarv wetland.