Fish & Game Condemns Attempts to Hoodwink Council Over Irrigation

Fish & Game has condemned attempts by South Canterbury farmers to evade irrigation restrictions by trying to manipulate river flow monitoring meters.

Environment Canterbury has confirmed it is investigating reports that a truck load of men built a weir on the Pareora River in South Canterbury next to a water level gauge, in an apparent effort to fool the gauge into recording the water level as being higher than it actually was.

The higher level would mean that irrigation was allowed to continue.

The Timaru Herald reports that witnesses who saw the weir building identified the men as local farmers.

Fish & Game chief executive Bryce Johnson described the attempt to evade the irrigation restrictions as environmentally foolhardy.

“This is breathtakingly irresponsible. The restrictions on irrigation are there to protect the river and by trying to get around them, these individuals are trying to take water from the whole community.

“The reality is that the Pareora River couldn’t cope with the loss of that water. That’s why there were restrictions in place,” Mr Johnson said.

“By trying to get around an agreed system of environmental management, these individuals are hurting the very environment they, and everyone living nearby, relies on to survive.”

Mr Johnson urged farming bodies and Irrigation New Zealand to crack down on such blatant acts.

“This is theft of a public resource and the farming industry needs to speak out and condemn such acts,” he said.

“Fish and Game realises that this summer’s weather patterns have created a desperate situation for some farmers, and while we do sympathise, the reality is that the environment needs water too.”

Mr Johnson says regional councils need to stand firm maintaining minimum water flows for rivers in the face of irrigators’ demands for agreed limits to be ignored.

“Fish and Game applauds the lead being taken by the Otago Regional Council on enforcing previously agreed water takes in its region, even if it means reducing or halting irrigation.

We strongly endorse the council’s efforts to manage Otago’s freshwater supplies for the community’s environmental, economic and recreational needs.”

Mr Johnson said he was heartened by the council’s chief executive resolve to stand firm on the issue despite personal attacks on him.

“It is this sort of leadership that all councils should take heart from.”

“We hope other councils around the country including Environment Canterbury (ECan) will follow Otago’s lead for the sake of not only the aquatic environment, but local communities’ stake in having healthy rivers.”

Mr Johnson says Fish & Game staff and volunteers across the South Island have already

carried out rescue operations for fish left stranded in rivers dried out by this summer’s searing temperatures.

“Fish and Game is rescuing trout and native fish, including galaxids, torrent fish and eels. If the dry conditions continue we will see further loss of aquatic life.”

“These rescue operations are putting a real stress on the organisation’s resources but these are extraordinary times,” Mr Johnson said.

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