Mackenzie Guardians Update November 2016
Photo: Gliding over the Ohau outwash
Greetings Mackenzie Guardians and Supporters,
We have tried to keep this Update brief but there is a lot going on in the Mackenzie at
present.
Some extraordinary intervention is necessary.
No doubt you have heard the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) is challenging
Mackenzie District Council rules on vegetation clearance. For some time the Mackenzie
Guardians` committee has been concerned about a rule in the District Plan that is being
used to fast track cultivation, resulting in the destruction of large areas of significant
indigenous vegetation.
Gary Taylor of EDS wrote to the Court…’The vegetation clearance is on a scale that
challenges the integrity of the Plan Change 13 process….. It seems to me that there are
signs of a rush to gain approvals to transition to new land use prior to Plan Change 13
being determined. Gary considers the situation has reached a tipping point at which
some extraordinary intervention is necessary, at least in the interim…..Outstanding
values identified in Plan Change 13 for the Mackenzie Basin may be lost, potentially
permanently, before the ink is dry on the plan change.’
Ecologist, Dr Susan Walker provided an affidavit as part of the EDS Declaration. She
writes about the rapid loss of biodiversity values that she has witnessed….In the last two
and a half years I have observed a large amount of indigenous clearance in the
Mackenzie Basin……The ecological values being lost are unique to New Zealand and
the world.
An urgent Court Hearing date has been set for 14, 15, 16 December 2016 in the ChCh
Environment Court. You can follow the case and find all the relevant documents at:
https://environmentcourt.govt.nz/cases-online/environmental-defence-societyincorporated-v-mackenzie-district-council
This is a hugely important action being taken by EDS. The Court Hearing is open to the
public and we urge anyone who is able, to attend in support of EDS and the Mackenzie.
Simons Pass/Simons Hill.
The proposal to irrigate approx. 4,800 ha of the Pukaki Outwash was originally
consented by the Regional Council in 2012. The decision was appealed by the applicant
and Forest and Bird. Mackenzie Guardians joined as a party to appeals and so began a
very long and difficult mediation of these appeals. We did achieve some major
environmental outcomes, but the fact that up to 15 dairy farms are now consented to
proceed is a huge concern. Read the final Court decisions released on 29 October
2016 at: Decision [2016] NZEnvC 209 (Simons Hill Station Ltd):
https://app.box.com/s/ff61y8gdpjcxt09crecw79s1fddr7lg2
Decision [2016] NZEnvC 210 (Simons Pass Station Ltd):
https://app.box.com/s/z1bg1jdvp8p4w5eyvo83fxup0qg1l8ba
Photo: Simons Hill between Pukaki and Benmore. Twizel and Rosehip properties on right
Benmore Irrigation Scheme
For this application to almost double the area of irrigation between Twizel and Omarama
(3,800ha to 7,000ha) Mackenzie Guardians again engaged Di Lucas, who presented
excellent landscape evidence at the Hearing in Omarama 14 October 2016. Jen Miller
also presented important evidence for Forest and Bird. The Society was supported by
some of the locals who spoke out about the landscape effects of continued irrigation and
the increasing degradation of local waterways.
Thanks to the Mackenzie Guardians who wrote individual submissions, to those who
attended the hearing, and for the wonderful local hospitality after the hearing. All
evidence presented available at: http://ecan.govt.nz/GET-INVOLVED/CONSENTPROJECTS/BENMORE_IRRIGATION/Pages/Hearing.aspx
No decision released yet.
Scum on Lake Benmore Haldon Arm
Mackenzie Lifestyle Ltd
Three Mackenzie Guardians attended a hearing in Fairlie on 3 November 2016 to
support the Society’s submission and landscape evidence presented by Di Lucas. A
large subdivision was consented some time ago which has not proceeded. The
applicants now plan to reduce the subdivision from 49 residential lots to less than 7, but
move from the current location away from the highway to alongside the main road,
opposite Twizel. Again the Society is very concerned at the landscape impacts and the
spread of housing across the highway, and more potential pastoral intensification of the
Pukaki outwash. The Society was the only other submitter presenting, beside the
Mackenzie District Council and the applicant. The Council recommended the application
be declined. Mackenzie Guardians agreed with the Council position. Thanks again to Ms
Lucas for the evidence prepared on behalf of Mackenzie Guardians and to our
supporters who travelled to Fairlie to attend the Hearing. No decision released yet.
Plan Change 13
The Mackenzie District Plan Change 13 is critical for the future protection of what
remains of the Mackenzie drylands. The Plan amendments seek to restrict future
inappropriate development, use and subdivision in an Outstanding Natural Landscape.
The Plan Change 13 Hearing begins in Christchurch on 30 January 2017. Mackenzie
Guardians received funding from the Ministry for the Environment’s Environmental Legal
Assistance Fund (ELA) to engage lawyer Ruby Haazen, ecologist Dr Susan Walker and
landscape architect Di Lucas. The Guardians also engaged a pastoral ecologist, Dr
Bruce Allan. Evidence has been prepared by our experts and has been filed with the
Environment Court. This will be another important hearing to follow, or attend if you can.
Rosehips Appeals
These appeals are proceeding to a Court Hearing early 2017. The two former Rosehips
properties are now named Kidd and McIntyre blocks. The original applications to irrigate
land near Twizel, and draining to Lake Benmore, were declined on water quality effects.
The Society is a party to these appeals and will provide legal, landscape and ecological
evidence at the hearing against the proposal, again funded by the ELA.
As you can see, it has been a very busy year for Mackenzie Guardians as development
ramps up in the Mackenzie. ECan irrigation consents and Tenure Review remain
obstacles to finding a lasting solution for the Mackenzie.
Once again, thank you for your continued support of the work Mackenzie Guardians do.
Kind regards,
Liz Weir
Rosalie Snoyink
The following are links to recent media articles:
.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/85090483/benmore-irrigation-scheme-plansexpansion-opponents-warn-of-effect-on-wildlife 10 October 2016
http://www.stuff.catalyst.net.nz/environment/85550246/Bid-to-double-irrigation-inthreatened-species-stronghold 24 October 2016
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/318529/environmental-group-goes-to-court-toprotect-mackenzie-country 22 November 2016
http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/86690878/blatant-and-cynical-rort-of-environmentrules-condemned 23 November 2016
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/86716872/Claims-land-is-being-cleared-at-anunprecedented-rate-in-the-Mackenzie 24 November 2016
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/86857663/mackenzie-agreement-not-toblame-for-land-clearance-concerns-manager-says 25 November 2016