An activist is calling for tougher water regulations to oppose a West Coast company's plan to export glacial water from near Mt Aspiring.
Mt Aspiring National Park Photo: 123rf.com
Okuru Enterprise Limited has applied for resource consent to redirect up to 800 litres a second from Tuning Fork Creek to an export facility at Neils Beach in Jackson Bay.
The creek flows off the back of Mt Aspiring National Park. There are about 100 glaciers in the region, with the three largest flanking the mountain, according to the Department of Conservation.
Jen Branje, who successfully led a protest against water sales in Ashburton, said the company should not be able to send precious glacial water overseas and started a petition calling for stronger regulation.
"Our water ways are unswimmable, our groundwater is full of nitrates, yet the pure pristine water on the West Coast will be pumped off into a ship and sent off overseas for private profit."
Ms Branje said she wanted a moratorium on all water exports, until legislation could protect the resource from profiteering.