Protestors Make Waves Over Plan

Stuff News:

Hundreds of protesters took to Christchurch streets and the Avon River yesterday to oppose a Hurunui River irrigation project.

The noisy group, marching to chants of "Hands off the Hurunui", was not placated by news the Hurunui Water Project had put its consent applications, which include a 75-metre-high dam, on hold for a year.

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman told protesters in Victoria Square that the fight had just begun.

"This thing needs to be stopped," he said. "They have taken the last of our wild rivers, the last of our special places and they're not going to take any more."

Norman said the project's backers were frightened of people who had rallied against it.

Environment Canterbury councillor Eugenie Sage said the Hurunui should run free from Lake Sumner to the sea.

The colourful crowd included the Grim Reaper, with "Lake Sumner" written on his scythe.

The marchers were supported by kayakers, people on rafts and fly-fishermen wading in the Avon.

Coast to Coast organiser Robin Judkins said he was "sick to death" of decisions about Canterbury's water being based on poor science.

"I don't want to see any more water extraction from any river in Canterbury until we have an accurate and scientific examination of this resource," he said.

Marcher Dean Munsey, of Christchurch, who had been to Lake Sumner and the Hurunui to fish, hunt and kayak for 25 years, was concerned about the project's impact on the river's south branch, which flooded and "cleans the river up".

Kayaker Clare McLennan, of Christchurch, said the Hurunui was where Cantabrians learnt to paddle. "We're going to lose this place."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch/2973347/Protesters-make-waves-over-plan