Illegal users of water 'alarming'

Press, 25 September 1982, Page 2

Illegal users of water 'alarming'

An increase in the number of unauthorised water users could provoke a clampdown by the North Canterbury Catchment Board. Between 20 per cent and 50 per cent of water users were without water rights, the board's resource committee Heard yesterday. The board would have to tighten its policing to retain its credibility, said the board's resource manager. Mr R. W. Cathcart. The committee's chairman, Dr B. P. J. Molloy, said the problem of illegal water use was not new but had worsened because of the drought. More and more farmers were sinking wells without applying for rights, he said. The number was "alarming." The board's deputy chairman. Mr R. B. Johnson, said he was "personally shattered" by the news. “No way can we go into a series of dry years with this

sort of thing going on: it is not on." he said. Mr Cathcart said a solution would be to “get staff out into the field" to find offenders, but the board had insufficient staff. The maximum penalty for using water without a water right was a fine of $2OOO. Mr T. W. D. Anderson said advertisements and public notices should be used to remind people of their legal obligations. He also suggested an amnesty to give people time to make applications before they were prosecuted. Mr Cathcart said he would prepare a report on solutions to the problem. People seeking water rights for this summer have about two weeks to make their applications. Mr Cathcart told the committee that the board would be unable to consider late applications until February, 1983.