Court appeals seek to protect wetlands

Press, 23 August 1983, Page 8

Court appeals seek to protect wetlands

PA Auckland The Lands and Survey Department and the Auckland Acclimatisation Society have both appealed to the High Court against a Planning Tribunal decision allowing drainage of parts of the Whangamarino Swamp. The Deputy Director-Gen-eral of Lands, Mr George MacMillan, said the department’s appeal sought to preserve “one of our most important wetlands.” The society said the swamp, which covers 10,600 hectares between Mercer and Te Kauwhata, contains 53 species of birds and is internationally important. The appeals are the latest step in what conservationists see as a test case of legislation that provides ineffectual protection for the

10 per cent of wetlands as yet undeveloped. The tribunal itself, in declining to overturn water rights granted by the Waikato Valley Authority for two farmers to drain parts of the swamp, said the Water and Soil Conservation Act was not a suitable means for preserving the swamp as a wetland. The Environmental Defence Society said many of the relatively few remaining wetlands are under threat from farmers, mining companies, and housing developers. It wants the Government to declare a moratorium on wetlands development.

A report on wetlands prepared for the Environmental Council said a general moratorium was impracti-

cal but it wanted a policy statement by the Government.

The report, prepared by scientists and catchment board staff, describes the management of wetlands as “sporadic, diverse, and un-co-ordinated.”

The Minister for the Environment, Dr Shearer, agreed that present legislation was inadequate. He awaits the results of further research on wetlands.

The president of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, Mr Ross Goodwin, said the ultimate aim of the appeal was to find whether wetlands were protected in law.

The society also seeks an interim court order restraining the two farmers from draining their land.