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Conservation
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Conservation AGM Report
2001
The following is an outline of some of the main conservation
issues the club has been involved in over the year 2001
1. Preparation for Resource Consent Application by Contact
Energy for the waters of the Clutha, Kawarau, and Hawea rivers.
The closing date for submissions was October 19th. The OCKC
submission opposed the application and we requested compensation
in a variety of ways. We plan to go the hearing and present our
case. Preparation has been done on a picture book and chart with
details of "lost water of the Clutha" that can be used
at the hearing.
2. Opposition to the application for resource consent
by Queenstown Lakes District Council for flood remediation works
at Smith Falls on the Kawarau river. A letter of opposition was
sent on behalf of the club and individual members were also
encouraged to send letters. The main reason for opposition to
the application was the alteration of a scenic river that has a
conservation order on it and that the council needs to consider
all aspects of flood control rather than just this one. The
result of this was that everything is now "on hold"
until the council considers all the options for flood control
and presents them all together..
3. Opposition to the passing of a resolution to make a
special order / by-law on the Shotover River by the Queenstown
Lakes District Council. It was considered that this would
potentially restrict access for kayakers on the Shotover River.
The result of this was information that kayakers are allowed on
the Shotover River but need to inform the jet boat operators of
the size of party, date and time they plan to be on the river.
4. Opposition to the use of jet boats on the Kawarau River to
develop a new ecotourism project transporting tourists by jet
boat further down the Kawarau river, to the wineries. This was
opposed because of the danger to kayakers on the river and the
destruction of the wild, scenic and peaceful nature of the
river. A meeting has been convened by the Queenstown
Harbourmaster.
5. Support was given for placing a Water Conservation order
on the Rangitata River. The hearing for this is still to take
place so the outcome is pending.
6. Surveys have been filled out and focus group attended for
the Dunedin City Council contributing to their Recreational Plan
and Habour Facilities Plan.
7. Maggie visited and spoke to Pete Hodgson, Labour MP for
Dunedin North and currently Minister of Energy on the concerns
of kayakers and the loss of white water rivers and also to gain
an understanding of what the views of the government are
regarding conservation of New Zealand rivers.
8. Maggie visited Natural Heritage Films to discuss the possibility
of filming the Clarence River and its surrounds. There is a fear
that this river may also be lost to hydro electricity. The
thinking was to get as much information as possible out to the
public about the value of the river.
9. Ongoing informal contacts were conducted throughout the
year with members of the New Zealand Recreational Canoe
Association Conservation Officer, conservation representatives
from other kayak clubs around the country, Fish and Game
Department, Department of Conservation, Ngai Tahu and Public
Access New Zealand.
10. The club sponsored Maggie to attend the AGM of New
Zealand Recreational Canoe Association. This provided a good
opportunity to meet with others concerned with conservation
issues and also meet the Minister of Conservation, Marian Hobbs.
11. Attempts were made to source the author of the book
"Canoeing History of New Zealand" by Fyffe. Contained
within this book are accounts of kayaking the Doctors Rapids on
the Lower Cutha River.
Special thanks to all members who have sent away submissions
throughout the year.
If anyone wants to know more about any of the above then please
contact either
Maggie moakley@paradise.net.nz
or
Sue sue.mcallister@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Conservation
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