New Zealand’s natural freshwater resources:
The irrigation industry wants to see the estimated 650,000ha of irrigated land increased to in excess of a million hectares within the next two decades.
If water storage schemes are to provide for greater agricultural intensification, it must be at no further harm to the natural environment which has already suffered too much damage.
Therefore, Fish & Game supports water storage for agricultural use provided both the direct and indirect freshwater environmental effects are benign.
In addition to its specific focus on freshwater habitat and recreational opportunity outlined above, Fish and Game has a broader requirement for good environmental management. The land use intensification that results from water storage projects must be subject to an overall environmental assessment which takes account of the following questions, and avoids, remedies or mitigates any potential adverse environmental effects:
Download a copy of our position statement on Water Storage and Irrigation.