Summary
Project River Recovery (PRR) is a Department of Conservation (DOC) programme that aims to maintain and enhance river and wetland habitats in the Upper Waitaki Basin.
PRR is funded by Meridian Energy Limited (previously the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand (ECNZ) under a compensatory agreement that recognises the adverse effects of hydro-electric power development on rivers and wetlands.
The compensatory agreement was signed in November 1990 and is tied to the term of ECNZ's water rights, which expire on 30 April 2025. Project River Recovery began operations in late 1991.
The compensatory agreement states that PRR's objective is "to carry out jointly agreed programmes of wetland habitat restoration and enhancement with the goal of providing habitat and conditions equivalent to or greater than the net loss of habitat and conditions attributable to the Waitaki hydro-electric power development".
DOC and Meridian Energy review Project River Recovery's funding and direction every seven years.
The second seven-year period ended on 30 June 2005, and the third seven-year period runs from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2012.
A water allocation plan for the Waitaki River is currently being prepared.
This plan may change Meridian's consents to take and use water in the Waitaki River. The outcome of this process will not be known until September 2005 at the earliest. Because PRR's compensatory funding agreement with Meridian is tied to these consents, Meridian and DOC have agreed that funding be reviewed on an annual basis until outcomes of the water allocation process are clear.
Meridian Energy agreed on 31 May 2005 to fund Project River Recovery at a rate of $412,000 for the 2005/06 year, with a CPI adjustment for the previous twelve months.
Future funding of PRR will be negotiated once the Waitaki water allocation process is complete.
Project River Recovery and Meridian Energy aim to maintain and build on their constructive, mutually beneficial relationship.
Project River Recovery will continue to maintain close working relationships with Environment Canterbury, Land Information New Zealand and local territorial authorities.
This strategic plan outlines PRR's origins and achievements to date, describes its long-term vision, guiding principles and objectives.
PRR's objectives for its third seven year phase of operation are to:
- Maintain indigenous vegetation and protect or restore riverbed and wetland habitat by removing problem weeds.
- Explore opportunities to enhance wetland protection in the upper Waitaki Basin.
- Continue to build knowlege of natural heritage in braided river ecosystems.
- Test the effectiveness of large-scale predator control for population recovery of braided river fauna.
- Facilitate research by external agencies to improve our understanding of the ecology of braided river systems.
- Increase public awareness of braided rivers and associated wetlands.
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