11. Tekapo, Pūkaki and Ōhau Rivers
11.1 Introduction
This chapter summarises the Board's evaluation of the provisions in the Plan relating to the environmental flow and level regimes for the Tekapo, Pūkaki and Ōhau rivers. The effectiveness, benefits and costs, and efficiency of the provisions are examined. Consideration is given to the circumstances where there is uncertain or insufficient information, as identified in section 4.2.6 of this report. Based on these evaluations, having regard to effectiveness and efficiency, the Board's overall judgement of whether the provisions are the most appropriate to achieve the objectives is recorded.
The upper Ōhau River is that part of the Ōhau River upstream of Lake Ruataniwha. The lower Ōhau River is that part of the Ōhau River downstream of Lake Ruataniwha.
11.2 Plan provisions
The relevant provisions of the Plan are:
- Policies 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 38 and 39
- Rules 1, 2, 9, 11, 15, 16, 19, 20 and 24.
11.3 Effectiveness
The Board's evaluation of the effectiveness of the provisions in the Plan in relation to the environmental flow and level regimes for Tekapo, Pūkaki and Ōhau rivers is summarised in Table 62 below. In this circumstance, Objectives 1 and 2 are relevant to the evaluation.
Table 62: Effectiveness of the provisions in the Plan in relation to the environmental flow and level regimes for Tekapo, Pūkaki and Ōhau Rivers
| Objective | Provisions | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
No minimum environmental flow and level regimes are specified for the Tekapo (upstream of Lake George Scott), Pūkaki and lower Ōhau Rivers. This sustains the existing qualities of the environment. The existing minimum flow regime for the upper Ōhau River is retained, and a new minimum flow and level regime for the Tekapo River (downstream of Lake George Scott) is provided for, in the Plan. These will maintain the existing life-supporting capacity and people's appreciation and enjoyment of the upper Ōhau and Tekapo rivers. Environmental flow and level regimes enable the provision of water for an individual's reasonable domestic needs, the reasonable drinking-water needs of an individual's animals, and for fire-fighting needs. Implementation will occur through the consideration of resource-consent applications as either a discretionary or non-complying activity. |
High |
|
2 |
The environment flow and level regime for the upper Tekapo River (between Lake George Scott and Fork Stream) results in no reliable water being available for allocation to activities, maintaining the current situation. There is no environment flow and level regime specified for Tekapo (upstream of Lake George Scott), Pūkaki and lower Ōhau rivers. No reliable water is available for allocation to activities from these rivers. Existing and new activities can access water from Tekapo River downstream of its confluence with Grays River. The allocation limits do not restrict existing resource consents, or replacement resource consents for the same or less amounts of water. Micro hydro-electricity generation and fisheries and wildlife activities are exempt from the allocation limit. Water takes and diversions for essential drinking, stock drinking-water, maintaining fire fighting capacity and the processing of perishable produce are not restricted by the minimum flows. Any water within the environmment flow and level regime is available for hydro-electricity generation in downstream hydro-electricity generation stations. The allocation limits for the Tekapo (downstream of Lake George Scott) and upper Ōhau rivers provide that any water released from Lakes Tekapo and Ōhau for agricultural and horticultural activities over and above the required for the environment flow and level regime may be taken for that purpose. |
Moderate |
|
Overall evaluation |
Moderate/High |
|
11.4 Benefits and costs
The Board's evaluation of the benefits and costs of the provisions in the Plan relating to environmental flow and level regimes for the Tekapo, Pūkaki and Ōhau rivers is summarised in Tables 63 to 67 below.
Table 63: Benefits and costs of specifying no environmental flow and level regime for the Tekapo River upstream of Lake George Scott and the environmental and flow regime for Tekapo River from Lake George Scott to its confluence with Fork Stream
| Benefits | Costs |
|---|---|
|
Environmental Existing ecosystems adapted to primarily dry conditions will remain undisturbed. Landscape and amenity values associated with the upper Tekapo River will be maintained. Feeding and/or roosting and/or breeding habitats for bird life are maintained and/or enhanced, particularly for:
Habitat and/or spawning areas for native fish species are maintained and/or enhanced, particularly for:
Habitat and/or spawning areas for sport fish species are maintained and enhanced, particularly brown and rainbow trout. |
Environmental Potential site-specific adverse effects from micro hydro-electricity generation and fisheries and wildlife activities downstream of Lake George Scott (to the extent not mitigated as per consent conditions). |
|
Economic Retains economic benefit from existing activities. Retains high value water for hydro-electricity generation. Provides opportunity to derive economic benefit from new activities. Provides opportunities to derive economic benefit from micro hydro-electricity generation. Avoids compliance costs (engineering works and annual operating costs) of diverting consistent small flows of water into the upper reaches of the Tekapo River. |
Economic |
|
Social Recreation values maintained. Retains secondary social wellbeing effects associated with existing activities. |
Social |
|
Cultural Acknowledges that Tekapo River could provide for continuity of flow from mountains to the sea at the time of seeking replacement resource consents. |
Cultural Fails to connect the waters of the Waitaki River along the natural course of Tekapo River. |
Table 64: Benefits and costs of the environmental flow and level regime for the Tekapo River downstream of its confluence with Fork Stream
| Benefits | Costs |
|---|---|
|
Environmental Natural character (including shallows, rapids, riffles and pools) of the river downstream of its confluence with Fork Stream is maintained. Landscape and amenity values associated with the Tekapo River will be maintained. Wetland ecosystems associated with the lower parts of the River is maintained. Feeding and/or roosting and/or breeding habitats for bird life are maintained, particularly for:
Habitat and/or spawning areas for native fish species are maintained, particularly for:
Habitat and/or spawning areas for sport fish species are maintained, particularly brown and rainbow trout. |
Environmental Potential site-specific adverse effects from micro hydro-electricity generation and fisheries and wildlife activities (to the extent not mitigated as per consent conditions). Potential site specific effects from taking essential drinking and stock drinking-water, and for the processing of perishable produce in times of low flow. |
|
Economic Provides opportunity to derive economic benefit from new activities downstream of the confluence with Grays River. Provides opportunities to derive economic benefit from micro hydro-electricity generation, essential drinking and stock drinking-water, and the processing of perishable produce. |
Economic Opportunity cost attached to hydro-electricity generation as a result of the use of moderate value water. |
|
Social Recreation values maintained. Highly valued trout fishing opportunities will be maintained. Existence values of the Tekapo River maintained. Enhanced opportunities for secondary social wellbeing effects derived from new activities. Enhanced secondary social wellbeing effects from micro hydro-electricity generation, essential drinking and stock drinking-water, and the processing of perishable produce. |
Social |
|
Cultural Recognises the relationship of Ngāi Tahu and their culture and traditions with the Waitaki River, a taonga, and its associated sites and wāhi tapu. Maintains existing the habitat of mahinga kai species. |
Cultural |
Table 65: Benefits and costs of specifying no environmental flow and level regime for the Pūkaki River
| Benefits | Costs |
|---|---|
|
Environmental Existing ecosystems adapted to primarily dry conditions and will remain undisturbed. Landscape and amenity values associated with the Pūkaki River will be maintained. |
Environmental |
|
Economic Retains high value water for hydro-electricity generation. Retains economic benefit from existing activities. Avoids compliance costs (engineering works and annual operating costs) of diverting consistent small flows of water into the upper reaches of the Pūkaki River. |
Economic Forgone opportunity to derive economic benefit from new activities requiring water. |
|
Social Moderate recreation values (sightseeing, waterfowl hunting, 4-wheel driving, mountain biking) are maintained. Retains secondary social wellbeing effects associated with existing activities. |
Social Forgone opportunity to derive secondary social wellbeing effects from new activities requiring water. |
|
Cultural Acknowledges that Pūkaki River could provide for continuity of flow from mountains to the sea at the time of seeking replacement resource consents. |
Cultural Fails to connect the sacred water of Aoraki/Mt Cook, fed by the tears of Raki (Sky Father), with the Waitaki River along the natural course of the Pūkaki River. |
Table 66: Benefits and costs of the environmental flow and level regime for the upper Ōhau River
| Benefits | Costs |
|---|---|
|
Environmental Natural character (including shallows, rapids, riffles and pools), landscape and amenity values of the river will be maintained. Ecosystems associated with the upper Ōhau River, including the wetlands, will be maintained. Feeding and/or roosting and/or breeding habitats for bird life are maintained and/or enhanced, particularly for:
Habitat and/or spawning areas for native fish species are maintained and/or enhanced, particularly for:
Habitat and/or spawning areas for sport fish species are maintained and enhanced, particularly for:
|
Environmental Potential site-specific adverse effects from micro hydro-electricity generation and fisheries and wildlife activities (to the extent not mitigated as per consent conditions). Potential site specific effects from taking essential drinking and stock drinking-water, and for the processing of perishable produce in times of low flow. |
|
Economic Recognises high value of this water for hydro-electricity generation. Provides opportunity to derive economic benefit from new activities. Retains economic benefit from existing activities. Provides opportunities to derive economic benefit from micro hydro-electricity generation, essential drinking and stock drinking-water, and the processing of perishable produce. |
Economic |
|
Social Recreation values maintained. Valued trout fishing opportunities will be maintained. Existence value for the upper Ōhau River is maintained. Enhanced opportunities for secondary social wellbeing effects derived from new activities. Retains secondary social wellbeing effects associated with existing activities. Enhanced secondary social wellbeing effects from micro hydro-electricity generation, essential drinking and stock drinking-water, and the processing of perishable produce. |
Social |
|
Cultural Recognises the relationship of Ngāi Tahu and their culture and traditions with the Waitaki River, a taonga, and its associated sites and wāhi tapu. Has particular regard to the kaitiakitanga of Ngāi Tahu. Sustains the habitat of mahinga kai species. |
Cultural |
Table 67: Benefits and costs of specifying no environmental flow and level regime for the lower Ōhau River
| Benefits | Costs |
|---|---|
|
Environmental Existing adapted ecosystems remain undisturbed. Landscape and amenity values associated with the lower Ōhau River will be maintained. Feeding and/or roosting and/or breeding habitats for bird life are maintained and/or enhanced, particularly for:
|
Environmental |
|
Economic Retains high value water for hydro-electricity generation. Provides opportunity to derive economic benefit from new activities. Retains economic benefit from existing activities. Avoids compliance costs (engineering works and annual operating costs) of diverting consistent small flows of water into the lower Ōhau River. |
Economic Forgone opportunity to derive economic benefit from new activities requiring water. |
|
Social Enhanced opportunities for secondary social wellbeing effects derived from new activities. Retains secondary social wellbeing effects associated with existing activities. |
Social Forgone opportunity to derive secondary social wellbeing effects from new activities requiring water. |
|
Cultural Acknowledges that the Ōhau River could provide for continuity of flow from mountains to the sea at the time of seeking replacement resource consents. |
Cultural Fails to connect the waters of the Waitaki River along the natural course of Ōhau River. |
11.5 Efficiency
Following the consideration of the benefits and costs of the provisions in the Plan in relation to the environmental flow and level regimes specific to the Tekapo, Pūkaki and Ōhau rivers, it is the Board's judgement that the provisions are of high efficiency.
11.6 Appropriateness
The Board's evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of the environmental flow and level regimes for the Tekapo, Pūkaki and Ōhau rivers is summarised in Table 68 below.
Table 68: Summary of the effectiveness and efficiency of the provisions in the Plan in relation to environmental flow and level regimes for the Tekapo, Pūkaki and Ōhau rivers
| Effectiveness | Efficiency | |
|---|---|---|
|
Tekapo, Pūkaki and Ōhau rivers |
Moderate/High |
High |
Having regard to this information, and taking into account the benefits and costs and the risk of acting due to insufficient information, it is the Board's judgement that the provisions in the Plan relating to the environmental flow and level regimes for the Tekapo, Pūkaki and Ōhau rivers are the most appropriate to achieve the objectives of the Plan.
