Waipoua River 20130219.pdf - Northland Regional Council

flows 110 m before reaching the Waipoua River. As all water used is discharged back to theRiver, this take is unlikely to have adverse effects on the environment.4.5 Recreational use and tourismTourism and its associated uses (eg, walking, picnicking and camping) are the mainrecreational uses in the Waipoua River catchment. As discussed previously, traffic volumesand tourist numbers to the Waipoua area are already relatively high and expected toincrease. A major risk associated with these recreational uses is the introduction of pestsand weeds via camping and tramping gear. A significant concern in recent years has beenthe fungus kauri dieback disease, which causes debility and death of all kauri trees it infects.One way the fungus is thought to be spread is by mud on shoes (DOC 2011). Otherpressures, already discussed above, that will increase with increased visitors to the Waipouaarea are volumes of wastewater requiring disposal and the demand on water supply.Fishing nets are a potential vector for the spread of invasive aquatic weeds and fish. Eventhough mosquito fish have already been recorded in the catchment (in one location in 1992),there has been no further records of them since. Mosquito fish have probably not becomewell established in the River because their usual habitat is slow-flowing streams andwetlands, especially where there is prolific aquatic plant growth (McDowall 2000). Althoughthe risk of invasive weeds or problematic pest fish becoming established in the fast-flowinghigh quality waters of the upper catchment is low, the impact would be large. There is verylittle information for the lower catchment but presumably the risk of establishment would behigher.Other recreational uses, such as swimming and road cycling, are unlikely to be impacting onthe River or its catchment.4.6 National Park proposalThere have been several proposals to establish a National Park in Northland incorporatingthe Waipoua Forest, the latest of which is currently being considered (DOC 2011 and DOC2012). As the area of the catchment that is proposed to be included in the National Park isthe area that currently sits within the Conservation Park, there is unlikely to be much changewith respect to permitted use and day-to-day management of the area. Most of the lowerWaipoua River below State Highway 12 is outside the proposed area.As mentioned above, visitor numbers would be expected to increase if National Park statuswas obtained, as studies have shown for other National Parks (DOC 2011). As the proposalstates:Specific attention is needed to coordinate agencies in providing adequate infrastructure forthe expected increase in visitor numbers and, through this, increase local people’sacceptance of tourism. Key infrastructure needs associated with increased tourism are: Roads and bridges Sewerage systems and toilet facilities, including campervan waste dumping sites andpublic toilets…. Water supplies Rubbish collection and disposal. (DOC 2012, p. 44).38