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Funding sought for strategic water study

Thursday, 11 February 2010 09:36 a.m.

Environment Southland will seek government funding for a strategic study into water demand in the Mataura catchment.
The Environmental Management Committee yesterday recommended the Council apply for funding from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s Community Irrigation Fund to pay for half the estimated $140,000 cost of the study.
Principal Planner Rachael Millar said that most of the Mataura catchment’s groundwater and surface water had already effectively been fully allocated, with little scope to cater for foreseeable increased demand – for example from large scale mining and associated development.
The last region-wide water resources study was carried out between 2003 and 2006, and showed the Mataura catchment had the greatest future water demand. That study did not take account of the current proposals involving the area’s lignite resources.
Councillors debated the form of the application, with Cr Maurice Rodway questioning the consequences that the study might have for the Mataura Conservation Order. “This work is not intended to do away with the conservation order, or downgrade it,” he said. “We should signal to MAF that it is not intended to repeal or revoke the conservation order, but retain it so that the outstanding values are protected while improving, if possible, the out-of-stream use of water in the catchment.”
Chairman Stuart Collie said that there was no suggestion of “doing away” with the Mataura Conservation Order, but it might need to be reviewed or modified to align it better with the Regional Water Plan.
The application states that the conservation order does not take account of the interaction between ground and surface water, or specify minimum flows. This reflected the pressures on the Mataura catchment and the level of scientific knowledge at the time the order was made. If the proposed study results in an integrated water management regime for the catchment, more water could be made available while also improving the level of protection for outstanding natural values, along with other environmental, cultural and social values.
Key stakeholders with an interest in the Mataura catchment are meeting today (Thursday) to discuss the proposed strategic water study.

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