Applicants for Springs protection to examine report 'with fine-tooth comb'

Wednesday, 18 March 2020

The co-applicants for the Water Conservation for Te Waikoropupu Springs. From left: Iwi Ngati Tama ki te Waipounamu Trust's Margie Little; iwi kaumata John Ward-Holmes and Andrew Yuill.

The applicants for an order to give the highest national protection to Golden Bay's landmark freshwater springs say they have a lot of work to do over the 15-day appeal period.

After nearly two years, the Environmental Protection Authority this week released the Special Tribunal's recommendations for the Water Conservation Order (WCO) for Te Waikoropupū Springs.

Iwi Ngāti Tama ki Te Waipounamu Trust have led the process with co-applicant Andrew Yuill, seeking the highest possible protection of the wāhi tapu.

The co-applicants said they would not comment on the report until they had gone through all the details 'with a fine-tooth comb'.

Ngāti Tama Trustee Margie Little said it was important they take the time to sit down, talk to the lawyers and Yuill, and come to a consensus.

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The tribunal has recommended that the application for the WCO be granted over both the confined and unconfined Arthur Marble Aquifer, and over Te Waikoropupū Springs. This includes the main spring, Dancing Sands Spring and Fish Creek Springs.

The Te Waikoropupu Springs are located near Takaka at the top of the South Island.

Dennis Bush-King, Tasman District Council's Environment and Planning Manager

It also recommends protection apply to the headwaters of the Takaka River and to its surface water tributaries, including the Waingaro River.

The draft order included controls on water takes and discharges to protect aquifer pressure and water quality.

The issues of significance and concern included water quality, pollution, E. coli and nitrate levels in the water.

Yuill said the report was a 'major and very welcome step' in a long journey.

05042018 NEWS PHOTO/ CHERIE SIVIGNONSave our Springs campaign co-ordinator Kevin Moran holds up a petition signed by more than 13,0000 people that calls on Tasman District Council to put a moratorium on new water consents in the recharge area of the Arthur Marble Aquifer. The aquifer feeds Te Waikoropupu Springs in Golden Bay. About 50 people gathered outside the council office in Richmond before the petition was presented to the council.

'It is a powerful weaving of mātauranga Māori, Pākehā science, and profound environmental values which cross cultures. We would recommend anyone to read it and reflect on what their own values are,' Yuill said.

Tasman District Council's Environment and Planning manager. Dennis Bush-King said the council had been continuing work on a Takaka freshwater plan change to the Tasman Resource Management Plan (TRMP).

This included reviewing the Freshwater and Land Advisory Group (FLAG) report and Manawhenua Mātauranga report by Manawhenua Ki Mohua.

Bush-King said the FLAG report considered water management across the whole Takaka catchment and adjacent coastal catchments, with protections for Te Waikoropupū forming a significant part of the recommendations.

'The FLAG report and the Mātauranga report, alongside the WCO recommendations, will form the foundation for the Takaka freshwater plan change to be discussed, and developed with further input opportunities from the Golden Bay community and anyone else with an interest in managing freshwater in the Takaka Valley.'

He said the TRMP must be consistent with the final gazetted WCO.

'The WCO sets the bar to be met, but is largely implemented through the TRMP … The combination of the TRMP and WCO will provide the best result for protection of this very special place.'

Save Our Springs spokesman Kevin moran said it was a 'fantastic' draft order.

'It will provide effective protection for Te Waikoropupū Springs. The result brings hope to water protectors up and down Aotearoa. I feel deeply grateful to Ngāti Tama and Andrew Yuill.'

However, he was concerned a group associated with farming would appeal to delay the WCOs implementation.