Could people please consider the fisheries
I write to support John Highton’s letter about the Waitaki River (ODT, 17.4.25).
This great river has been sadly neglected for many years.
In addition to the points made by John Highton I would like to add the following.
No effective fish pass was constructed when the first dam was constructed in the 1930s.
And to this day none of the irrigation intakes have fish screens.
The irrigators have permits to take water, not fish.
Fish screening is now mandated for the big rivers of Canterbury, north of the Waitaki.
Think of the toll these man-made interventions have had on migrating fish especially Salmon but native fish as well.
Justin Tipa is dead right (ODT, 11.4.25) in that the split control of the river by Otago and Canterbury has not helped the situation.
So in conclusion could those involved in managing this river in the future consider the fisheries which this great river once supported and which now (although much reduced) are still valued by many.
Is it really a sabbatical?
It is more than insulting to professional rugby union clubs in Europe and their professional players, which is actually nothing new for New Zealand Rugby to accomplish, to say an All Black is taking a sabbatical to play in Ireland or even Japan for that matter.
A sabbatical is defined as "taking leave from one’s regular work or career responsibilities", which playing for Leinster in the European Pro14 competition certainly is not.
This NZR ignorance is just par for the course as far as union in this country goes.
Rollout of cameras on fishing vessels to continue
I need to correct mis-information contained in Lala Frazer’s letter to the editor of Monday, April 14.
The correspondent incorrectly states that the proposed amendments to the Fisheries Act (which I referred to in an article published in the ODT on April 10) will stop the further rollout of cameras on commercial fishing vessels. That’s not correct. The amendments do not do that. In fact the rollout of cameras continues. Currently 192 inshore fishing vessels have cameras and at least 30 more cameras will be rolled out on the inshore fleet between now and the end of the year. It’s important to stick to the facts.
Carts and horses
The comment from Simon Telfer (ODT 14.4.25) stating it was not viable in the short, medium or long term to be trucking the sewage away [from Lake Hāwea], is obvious to all yet it is our local council QLDC that allows the developer to do this knowing the infrastructure is non-existent for increased housing.
I believe the consent for this "trucking away" expires in 2027, with a capacity of up to 25 truck movements a day at most, apparently at the developer’s expense?
All very well putting new pumps and pipeline to Wānaka's Project Pure, except that this plant is also at capacity.
Sounds like putting the (night ) cart before the horse.
Speed limit needed on school road
Could someone please explain to those of us who live on Taieri Rd Wakari, why St Mary’s School is the only school in Dunedin with no speed restrictions?
The traffic passes this school at over 50kmh at the times when children are starting and leaving. There is also a church which has several services a week attended by some elderly people.
The pedestrian crossing is now not one, and the school has been denied a safety patrol. Many trucks including logging ones with three trailers, some speeding, use this road and those towing metal trailers create crashing and banging in the weekends.
The dirt and noise coming into our homes is unacceptable. Parents picking up children after school cross this road, often parking on the opposite side.
This is a dangerous road and an accident waiting to happen.
Jeanine Benson, Dunedin City Council transport group manager, responds: "The enforcement of speed limits is a police matter, but the Dunedin City Council is prioritising the introduction of safer roading environments around our city’s schools. This work relies on NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and DCC funding, but we’re aiming to complete this work as quickly as possible. We encourage all motorists to drive to the speed limit and conditions and be extra careful around our schools, to help keep our tamariki safe."
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@odt.co.nz
