The report on development in high country lakes and rivers revealed the summed extent of the developed agriculture land in the hill-and-high country catchment areas of the 147,191 hectares in the Rangitata River area had increased from 5294ha in 1990 to 6015ha in 2020 - an increase of 14 per cent. Most of the new development was on moraine (413ha) and alluvial fan (181ha) landforms, and mostly took place between 2008-19. The percentage increase was lower than in the Waimakariri (57 per cent, 1139ha), Rakaia (25 per cent, 3918ha), and Hakatare/Ashburton (16 per cent, 1069ha). “The rate of development in the Rangitata is a concern, but there are other issues at play as well, such as climate change,” Christensen said.
Community Scoop » Report Shows Waterways In The Canterbury High Country Are Heading The Same Way As The Plains
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Source:Â Greenpeace
Greenpeace is calling on Environment Canterbury to be upfront about health risks of nitrate contamination, following ECanâs release of new data that shows nitrate contamination in drinking water is rising.
ECan has released the results of its annual groundwater quality survey for 2020. 322 wells were tested, with the highest nitrate reading of 22mg/L being almost double the current health limit for drinking water (11.3mg/L).
Greenpeace says ECanâs data is consistent with Greenpeaceâs own results from free nitrate water testing days across Canterbury, with both datasets showing concerningly high and worsening levels of nitrate.
Greenpeace senior campaigner Steve Abel says ECanâs comments on the data do not tell the whole story about the risks of nitrate contamination.