Wellington Fish & Game says the decision not to investigate the Mangatarere Stream for an irrigation dam means the worst-case scenario has been avoided. Manager Phil Teal said the most important trout spawning tributary of the Ruamahanga fishery won't be destroyed.
But if the dam goes ahead elsewhere "the already polluted Ruamahanga River would cop an additional nutrient burden from the intensive dairying that the irrigation scheme is designed to service".
"From a water quality perspective, yesterday's decision still puts the Ruamahanga River at risk of further significant degrading ."
Mr Teal says Wellington Fish & Game supports environmentally sustainable farming, but there are already major problems in the Ruamahanga catchment caused by existing agricultural and urban pollution. "From the outset of these investigations, Wellington Fish & Game has been clear about its concerns " these being the effects of increased nutrients from land intensification that will result and setting limits to protect ecosystem health, as well as the impact of several of the proposed dam sites on key trout spawning habitat.
"We also find it difficult to have full confidence in processes where Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) is both the dam promoter and environmental regulator, and also sets the environmental bottom lines through its regional plan. If you look at Hawke's Bay situation with the Ruataniwha project, it's hard to see how the regional council cannot be conflicted in their dealings there," he said.