Fishing News index> CPW May 2007

Complete list of new applications to Environment Canterbury

The following resource consent applications have been notified for activities relating to the tunnel:

CRC072760 - a land use consent to excavate a tunnel under the bed of the Hawkins River and tributaries near Bluff Road.

CRC072761 - a land use consent to excavate a tunnel over unconfined or semi-confined aquifers along the route between the Waimakariri portal and Waianiwaniwa portal.

CRC072762 - a water permit to take water for dewatering the tunnel during construction.

CRC072765 - a land use consent to store hazardous substances (principally diesel) to power machinery and plant at the Waimakariri portal and Waianiwaniwa portal.

CRC072766 - a discharge permit to discharge contaminants to air from the operation of a diesel generator during construction at the Waimakariri portal and Waianiwaniwa portal.

CRC073313 - a discharge permit to discharge contaminants, principally sediment, and water to the Waianiwaniwa River during construction of the tunnel.

The following resource consent applications have been notified for activities relating to the additional bywash discharges:

CRC071917 - a discharge permit to discharge water and contaminants to land and water at a maximum rate of 0.4 cubic metres per second (m3/s) to a 0.1 – 0.2 hectare constructed wetland, except that during emergencies the discharge could reach a maximum rate of 3 m3/s and may be discharged directly into the Selwyn River. The discharge shall occur near Hawkins Road, adjacent to the Selwyn River.

CRC073034 - A land use consent to erect, and maintain discharge structures and erosion protection works and to carry out associated excavation and disturbance, in, on, under, and over the bed of the Selwyn River and riparian margins to create a 0.1-0.2 hectare constructed wetland near Hawkins Road, adjacent to the Selwyn River..

CRC071916 - a discharge permit to discharge water and contaminants to land and water at a maximum rate of 0.3 m3/s to a 0.1 hectare constructed wetland, except that during emergencies the discharge could reach a maximum rate of 2.5 m3/s and may be discharged directly to the Hawkins River near Bluff Road, adjacent to the Hawkins River.

CRC073035 - A land use consent to erect, and maintain discharge structures and erosion protection works and to carry out associated excavation and disturbance, in, on, under, and over the bed of the Hawkins River and riparian margins to create a 0.1 hectare constructed wetland near Bluff Road, adjacent to the Hawkins River.

For more information on these applications, including maps and associated reports, please click on the link below:

http://www.ecan.govt.nz/Resource+Consents/centralplainsaee.htm

Likely effects of activities relating to…

…the tunnel

• As noted above, this will involve earthworks, water takes, and discharges to air and to the Waianiwaniwa River.

• Activities within river corridors may pose a direct threat to sportsfish and gamebird habitat. CPW have applied for a new consent to tunnel under the Hawkins River, but have not applied for any associated consents such as diverting its course of that river. While that may suggest the Hawkins will be unaffected by the tunnel, the taking of shallow groundwater below the Hawkins (discussed below) could significantly affect its flows.

• Outside of affected river corridors, the actual underground earthworks themselves may pose little threat to sportsfish or gamebird habitat. Of greater interest here is the associated activities of taking and discharging water.

• The taking of shallow groundwater to dewater land subject to earthworks could itself dewater any nearby rivers (such as the Hawkins) and wetlands, because this water may otherwise have provided baseflows to those waterbodies.

• The dewatering of this area results in a discharge to the Waianiwaniwa River, which may be heavily laden with sediment. Sediment-laden discharges can result in reduction of water clarity and deposition of fine materials on the riverbed. This poses a direct threat to trout through impairing their ability to locate food, smothering spawning grounds, and filling the spaces between gravels which otherwise provide habitat for juvenile trout, native fish and invertebrates.

• Noise, creation of dust, and movement of heavy vehicles may also reduce recreational amenity values in the affected area. While they are worth mentioning in a submission to Environment Canterbury, these kinds of issues fall more under Selwyn District Council’s mandate – for more information on new CPW applications to that Council, please click on the link below:

http://www.selwyn.govt.nz/cpw/cpw-more.htm

…the additional bywash/emergency discharges

· Many of you have already lodged submissions noting concern about existing plans to create a large number of bywash and emergency discharges to many rivers.

· In these new applications, another 2 discharges have been added to those already planned – one to the Selwyn River and another to the Hawkins River.

· To remind you of what ‘bywash’ and ‘emergency’ discharges are:

- Bywash discharges are made up of unused water and any contaminants picked up by water travelling through the scheme area. The effects of these discharges is discussed further below.

- Emergency discharges will be required following power outages or heavy rainfall. The combined size of these discharges is quite staggering – for example, an emergency discharge could see a brief pulse of 24.5 cubic metres of water per second suddenly released into the Selwyn River (a river with a mean flow of 3.3 cumecs). Habitat concerns aside, this would pose a considerable risk to anyone unfortunate enough to be on the riverbed at the time!

· Some people may consider that adding additional water to the Selwyn, Hororata and Hawkins Rivers might be a positive effect of the scheme. However, Fish & Game believe the discharges will do more harm than good because of the huge variability and questionable quality of these discharges.

· For example, higher discharges may encourage upstream trout migration – then when flows suddenly drop, it is likely many trout will be left stranded and will die. This unstable flow regime will also act against the likely success of any trout eggs which require stable, clean flows to survive.

· The quality of these discharges and their consequent effects on receiving rivers is a real concern. These discharges will collect a variety of nutrients, sediment, pesticides and other contaminants as they pass through the scheme area. Little information has been provided about the expected concentration of these contaminants, so it is difficult to quantify the likely end effect on receiving habitats.

· There is some confusion about ‘artificially constructed wetlands’ which are proposed to receive the bywash discharges. It is understood from a document recently obtained from Environment Canterbury’s files that these discharges should be considered ‘into water’ because the discharge volumes are “too great” to allow discharge to land. This suggests to Fish & Game that the proposed wetlands are mostly window-dressing, as water will pass through them too quickly to allow any treatment or settling out of contaminants.

· These discharges into the Selwyn and Hawkins Rivers will include water taken from both the Rakaia and Waimakariri Rivers. The effects of introducing this alien water on instream values, such as trout and salmon migration patterns, is largely unknown.

· When the mixing of waters from CPW scheme is seen in a regional context, it also becomes apparent that the scheme creates a linked body of water from the Rangitata River all the way north to the Ashley River. This creates a huge biosecurity risk. For example, if didymo infested any of these waters it would become very difficult to prevent it spreading quickly throughout Canterbury.

How to have your say by June 1

Central Plains Water is now open for public submissions. The closing date for submissions is June 1.

When making your submission you can use a pre-prepared submission template, which you can find by clicking on the link below:

http://www.ecan.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/6C3DD305-672B-4EC2-80EC-59DF2818091D/0/SubmissionForm.pdf

For help in writing your submission, please read below.

What MUST be included in my submission?

• The above link takes you to a submission template – otherwise you can make your own template (but it must cover the following matters).

• You need to say what consent applications you are submitting on. These are listed earlier in this document – or you can use the submission form provided by clicking on the link above.

• Clearly state your position (e.g. that you oppose all applications).

• Write the reasons for your submission (the standard form only provides a small space for submissions – you can attach a separate page with further details if required). It is fine to keep your submission general – you can expand on matters covered in your submission later if you tick ‘wish to be heard’.

• State the decision you want (e.g. decline all applications)

• Tick whether you wish to be heard in support of your submission (tick the ‘wish to be heard’ box and you will be kept informed of the process - you can always change your mind later or have someone else speak on your behalf).

• Add your name, address and telephone number

• Sign and date the submission

Who do I need to send my submission to?

• Check your submission includes all the requirements above.

• Keep a copy for yourself.

• Send a copy to Environment Canterbury addressed to:

Consents Administration Section

Environment Canterbury

P O Box 345

CHRISTCHURCH

• You must also send a copy to the applicant as soon as reasonably practicable. This copy should be addressed to:

CPW submission

c/o Buddle Findlay

Box 322

Christchurch

When do I need to do this by?

Submissions must be received by Environment Canterbury by 5pm on Friday June 1 2007.

We welcome your feedback, suggestions and questions on these new applications by CPW and how they may affect Fish & Game’s interests and values.

Please contact Environment Officer Jason Holland at:

Email: jholland@fishandgame.org.nz

This document updated 11 May 2007.