Graeme Wilson Vice President, Whitewater NZ & Vice President, Whitewater Canoe Club

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Graeme Wilson Vice President, Whitewater NZ & Vice President, Whitewater Canoe Club"

Ursula Leonard
5 years ago
Views:

1 Graeme Wilson Vice President, Whitewater NZ & Vice President, Whitewater Canoe Club May 2011

2 Formerly NZ Recreational Canoeing Association National body for kayaking and canoeing Principal activities are safety and advocacy Represent c 20 clubs and 1,000 members Affiliates include other clubs such as Arawa (Christchurch around 600 members) SPARC survey 209,652 NZers kayaked during the one year survey period on par with those who play netball WWCC (c 200), Arawa, DRKC (c 60), CPIT, NZ Defence Force, Schools, UCCC, individuals Most kayakers are not in clubs

5 Grade 1 moving water, few riffles eg Avon Grade 2 easy rapids with waves up to one metre eg Waimakariri, lower Waiau, parts of Hurunui Grade 3 rapids with high irregular waves, drops and narrow passages eg, parts of Hurunui (Maori Gully) Grade 4 difficult, experts only eg, upper Waiau or Maori Gully in flood Grade 5 very difficult, long and violent rapids Grade 6 extreme, very dangerous

11 Grade 1: Avon Grade 2: Waimakariri, Rakaia Grade 2+: Hurunui, Waiau, lower Rangitata, upper Ashley Grade 3: Hurunui, Ashley gorge, Opihi Grade 4: Rangitata gorge, upper Waiau

12 Types of boats vary significantly Length = speed Many different disciplines Most commonly used on Waimakariri and Rakaia are boats typically 5.2 to 6.5m, approx 13kgs, have a rudder, fibreglass, carbon fibre, kevlar, stability comes from speed River runners, play boats, creek boats, slalom, sea kayaks

13 Include: Rakaia and upper tributaries Waimakariri and upper tributaries Some other limited use - eg Porter Poulter Selwyn Bealey Kowai...and no doubt others exploration is ongoing

14 Highly valued river Upper gorges and lower braided sections Of national significance to our sport racing, multisport Enormous use in Canterbury

15 High use but only one test Other considerations of waterway importance include: Whitewater value Landscape value Use value Scarcity value Status value...and the Waimakariri features on these tests too.

16 Mt White Bridge to Woodstock 54 kms, either as a race or an overnight trip Part of Coast to Coast race Open braided sections Very scenic gorge Superb grade 2 section with two rapids of note Woodstock to Gorge Bridge Approx 13kms Open braided water Part of Coast to Coast race The Willows (Thompsons Rd) to SH1 bridge Grade 2 high use 25kms The Pylons to SH1 bridge 12 km of Grade 2 water Huge amount of use due to: Proximity Time involvement Repeatable Changes in flows and with freshes/floods

24 Much is not recorded estimated 10 days training for each 1 day of racing Coast to Coast c 800 paddlers plus preparation Arawa survey re CPW: From 486 members, estimate 1266 trips on upper river and 3922 on lower per annum WWCC little formal club use but extensive use by members 30 surveyed respondents paddled 20 times pa each WWCC Brass Monkey race series c800 trips per annum over 5 races very important introductory race Arawa and others run spring race series on the lower river All year, all week, all day

Have seen one AEE which suggested 100mm is sufficient for kayak passage - nonsense Desired flows for multisport boats at least 1m deep although it will float in less, paddles and rudders will be

25 Have seen one AEE which suggested 100mm is sufficient for kayak passage - nonsense Desired flows for multisport boats at least 1m deep although it will float in less, paddles and rudders will be damaged and bottom drag will occur Minimum for kayaking on the Waimakariri c40-60 cumecs, depending on how the braids form Minimum preferred 60 cumecs Less danger as less room to move; willow encroachment; braids which expire; damage to equipment Ideal range cumecs, with more experienced preferring higher flows over 200. Some paddle at flows over 500 cumecs

Considerable concerns over original application re flows and dangerous intake structures Considerable involvement by volunteers in the hearing process and the current mediation Outcomes: Considerable

26 Considerable concerns over original application re flows and dangerous intake structures Considerable involvement by volunteers in the hearing process and the current mediation Outcomes: Considerable reduction in the dangers posed by intake structures Considerable reduction in take, and holiday rule suggested Kayakers did not appeal but joined CPW, F&G and Ngai Tahu appeals Mediation in progress Still approx 10 days extra per annum in minimum paddling band

Highly valued by kayakers and other users Subject to a water conservation order Typically paddled from south bank down to Gorge Bridge Braids and then largely single channel though the gorge

27 Highly valued by kayakers and other users Subject to a water conservation order Typically paddled from south bank down to Gorge Bridge Braids and then largely single channel though the gorge Characterised by bluffs, boils and whirlpools The gorge section is currently used by DRKC most extensively, but in recent years WWCC would run many trips Use is also made of the lower river, but given the presence of the Waimakariri somewhat closer less kayaking takes place Concerns re CPW takes on the lower river Have addressed concerns re intake design during hearing process

28 ...the Rakaia and its tributaries include and provide for: An outstanding natural characteristic in the form of a braided river; Outstanding wildlife habitat above and below the Rakaia River Gorge, outstanding fisheries, and outstanding recreational, angling and jet boating features

29 Data provided by Trustpower to us last week suggests their current proposal will have a relatively small impact on flows above the gorge bridge (as measured by the number of affected days in different flow bands) other in winter months, but......we have not had the opportunity to fully review the data yet and discuss in more depth with key kayaking user groups and other recreational and environmental groups, and......takes by others below the gorge bridge (or water bypassing the river and feeding directly from Coleridge into irrigation canal) will impact the lower river Grave concerns over any weakening of a WCO the only instrument we have to protect rivers of national significance

30 Destruction of our habitat Dams flood whole valleys and destroy rivers irreversibly Diversions reduce the flow to a trickle for part or all of a river Downstream of dams are flow controlled not natural Water quality is getting worse Access is often an issue

31 Rivers gone in part or whole Includes Waitaki, Pukaki, Tekapo, Ohau, Kawarau, Clutha, Waiau (Southland) Rivers with diminished flows Includes Waimakariri, Selwyn, Rakaia Rivers made dangerous with intake structures and river protection works (including willows) Includes Waiau and Waimakariri Rivers threatened...hydro power, irrigation Too many to mention

32 Non substitutability one river is not the same as another river Flat water kayaking is not a substitute for whitewater or vice versa Non-whitewater mitigation is not mitigation Artificial courses can provide only limited mitigation Flow releases and flow regimes must consider recreational needs

Recreational opportunities in the zone Could provide whitewater course as part of a canal Opportunity to provide a whitewater amenity on or near an intake structure eg, at

33 Recreational opportunities in the zone Could provide whitewater course as part of a canal Opportunity to provide a whitewater amenity on or near an intake structure eg, at Intake Rd on the Waimakariri south bank Opportunity to provide flat water facility near Christchurch for rowing and kayaking given the current damage to the facilities at Kerr s Reach

34 The New Zealand Energy Strategy notes that over 80% of our country s hydro electricity generation resource has already been developed. New Zealand Energy Strategy, 2007, section Water is a renewable resource our rivers are not Thank you.

35 Rivers - for our children and our children s children.

Presentation to the Hurunui Waiau Zone Committee

Presentation to the Hurunui Waiau Zone Committee Ian Fox Committee Member, Whitewater Canoe Club (WWCC) Graeme Wilson Vice President, Whitewater NZ & Vice President, WWCC October 2010 WWCC has around 200