Opportunites (sic) for ecological restoration in the Takaka catchment
- Author
- Simpson, P.
- Year
- 2008
- Journal / Source
- Report commissioned by Tasman Environment Trust
- Publisher / Organisation
- Tasman Environment Trust
- Pages
- 53 pp
- Summary
- This report was commissioned by the Tasman Environmental Trust (TET) in order to develop a strategic view of opportunities for the Cobb Mitigation Fund, on the advice of its Cobb Mitigation Fund sub-committee. The fund has been generated by Cobb Power Limited as mitigation for consent to operate the Cobb River Power Scheme for a 35-year period from 2001. As a condition for consent, the three iwi in the Bay (Ngati Tama, Te Atiawa and Ngati Rarua) jointly sought mitigation to improve the health of the river (for eel passage, for instance), a stand supported by Fish and Game New Zealand. The iwi also sought a community focus for the use of the fund. Accordingly, over the past three years, with advice from a local sub-committee, TET has been allocating funds to community groups for ecological restoration projects. TET has relied on individuals and groups to identify the projects they wish to undertake. However, an overview strategy was considered desirable to assist the Trust to manage the fund wisely and to help applicants focus attention on matters outlined in the Deed (November 2002): Enhancing natural character, aquatic habitat and amenity, water quality or fishery values at and around the Cobb Valley and reservoir, the wider Takaka catchment, and the Waikoropupu Springs and the rivers and streams flowing from those springs; Enhancement of natural and manmade wetlands; Riparian vegetation enhancement. This report is not a strategy in terms of an action plan because the specific actions need to be community led. However, it helps to focus attention on the main areas of concern within the catchment and perhaps identifies projects with a larger scale in space and time than has hitherto been possible.