Court backs Rangitata's 'outstanding' status

Environment Court judge John Jackson has recommended to the Government that a water conservation order should be placed on the Rangitata River in South Canterbury.

At the end of a 10-month inquiry, the court has supported the findings of a special tribunal that the lower river is outstanding for salmon, water-based recreation and as a habitat for water birds and freshwater crayfish, Fish and Game New Zealand said yesterday.

The lobby group's central South Island council originally sought a water conservation order in 1999 to block several large irrigation schemes planned for the river.

Fish and Game spokesman Jay Graybill said key findings of the court decision were to retain the current minimum flows and place a cap of 33 cubic metres a second (cumecs) for water-take from the river.



Judge Jackson will pass his decision to Environment Minister Marian Hobbs, who will have the final say on whether an order will be put in place.

Mr Graybill said the ruling was a "tremendous victory" for river users.

It also showed the value of the Resource Management Act, because a water conservation order would effectively give the river "national park" status.

- NZPA