irrigators will suck our rivers dry

Environment Canterbury’s decision to give Central Plains Water, a private company, consent to take water from the Waimakariri and Rakaia rivers for irrigation on the Central Canterbury Plains has resulted in a protest art exhibition in Christchurch next week.

Twelve artists who strongly care about the water and the environment are staging the exhibition in support of the existing Waimakariri River, at the Coca Gallery on November 24.

At the 5.30pm opening, Lady Diana Isaac will award prizes for three Canterbury school children who won Alpine Jet River rides for their art about the river. Alpine Jets is threatened with closure if the scheme goes ahead, exhibition organisers Jane Zusters and Sally Hope said today.

The three winning entries from three age groups will join the art of Mark Adams, Nigel Brown, Linda James, Sam Mahon, Albi McCathy, Ramonda Te Maiharoa, Becky Turrell, Irene Schroder, Ben Woollcombe, Margaret Ryley, Hope and Zusters .

Waianiwaniwa Valley farmers were delighted their valley will not be flooded for a dam but a private compamy still secured the water rights, they said.

``Canterbury water belongs to all of us. We love our rivers but their water is being sucked up into irrigators and our rivers could be varnishing. This is a sad day for our rivers,’’ Hope said.

At the closing of this exhibition on December 12, Russell Norman of the Green Party will speak, along with Murray Rodgers of the Water Rights Trust. Singers Malcolm McNeill and Rima Te Wiata are supporting the water cause by performing.