Monday, 26 January 2015 00:00

Ruataniwha in limbo – again

Written by Rural News Group

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The chances of the controversial Ruataniwha dam irrigation scheme going ahead are still very good, says the Hawkes Bay Regional Council chair.

But Fenton Wilson concedes the High Court ruling in December to direct the board of inquiry (BOI) – which heard the consent applications for the scheme – to review its decision has placed the scheme in limbo.

The High Court ruled that the BOI erred in law in some parts of its decision and directed it to review this.

Wilson’s not sure exactly how many farmers have signed up to buy water from the scheme, but says farmers are still signing up.

“If the final conditions of the consents are workable and the conditions imposed are able to be met then the scheme will go ahead. If the conditions are too tough, I don’t want to speculate on the outcome.”

Wilson still thinks the chances of the scheme going ahead are very good. But the consenting process is taking longer than anticipated.

With the consent issue now back in the hands of the BOI it’s too hard to speculate on any timeframe, he says. But if the consents are right this will give farmers and investors confidence to support the scheme. – Peter Burke

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