Court of Appeal decision on Land Exchange
31 August 2016
Court of Appeal decision on Land
Exchange for Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme
Hawke’s Bay Regional Investment Company Ltd (HBRIC) says it will be discussing with the Department of Conservation the Court of Appeal’s direction that the Director General reconsider the revocation step of his decision regarding a land exchange for the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme.
Forest & Bird appealed a High Court decision upholding the Director-General’s decision to revoke 22 hectares of conservation land from the 94,000 hectare Ruahine Forest Park.
HBRIC Ltd Chairman Andy
Pearce says HBRIC’s focus remains on confirming all
elements of the scheme. In July Hawke’s Bay Regional
Council agreed that three of the four conditions required
for it to agree to invest $80 million in the irrigation
scheme have been satisfied. These relate to consents for
the scheme, the design and construction contract and water
user uptake. The final condition relating to investment in
the scheme is close to being satisfied.
ends