Another disaster on the Tongariro River?

 

TRM anglers have asked: Where else would they use a world class trout fishing river for a gravel quarry?

How can DOC allow this? It is environmental vandalism.  Council should fine them!

What do you think?

TRM library images on right are typical from previous Waikato Regional Council “gravel management works” on the Tongariro River.  i.e. The “before” and “after” images are dated 23 June 2006 when they developed an access road across the “Plank Pool” to extract road metal from the Braids and 25 June, 3 days later, when it was swept away.
The Braids has still not recovered from previous WRC excavations to provide a canal down the true left bank to prevent flooding?
In every example of WRC flood protection (?) works in the last decade the river has suffered.
This gravel extraction plan is proposed to one of the largest brown trout nurseries during spawning time.
Many anglers who regularly fish the lower river and seen all this before are adamant it is nothing to do with flood protection, but is simply the cheapest gravel quarry for road metal in the region.
What a coincidence!  Recently the cost of road metal has tripled in this region as it had to be trucked from the Manawatu.
Is that the real reason behind WRC “gravel management works”?
Taupo Trout Fishery – from DOC’s facebook for the Taupo Fishery

NOTICE TO ANGLERS and recreational users of the Lower Tongariro River.

The Waikato Regional Council (WRC) will commence gravel management works within the area immediately down-river of SH1 Bridge on Thursday 05 April. The works are expected to last for two weeks.

Preliminary vegetation removal is already underway.

During high flow events the Tongariro River deposits large amounts of gravel in this zone. As a consequence the river bed has risen in places increasing erosion potential of the river bank and flood scheme assets.

The objective of this gravel management work is to encourage a stable main channel and a more even distribution of flow down existing channels, therefore relieving pressure and increasing flood scheme capacity.

A period of consultation was undertaken with key stakeholders, which included representatives from the angling community – DOC Fishery Management Team, Taupo Fishery Advisory Committee and Tongariro and Lake Taupo Anglers Club. This involved site field trips, meetings and discussions. Resulting considerations include an appreciation for high value locations, fish habitat and access.

Measures put in place include…
– Restricted working hours 8am-6pm Mon-Sat.
– Maintain access where practically possible.
– Work to best practice guidelines including forming bunds to work in the dry and maintain safe passage for fish.

WRC will ensure that appropriate signage and spotters will be present to minimise risk, however caution is recommended and contact must be made with an official when nearing the work site.