Meridian Welcomes Hunter Downs interim decision

Media Release – for immediate release
December 15, 2009

Meridian Welcomes Hunter Downs interim decision

The backers of the Hunter Downs Irrigation scheme have welcomed the release of a minute by Environment Canterbury’s hearing panel which they say indicates that consent should be granted for water for the scheme based on a minimum flow of 152 cumecs.

Hunter Downs Irrigation (HDI) is a joint proposal between the South Canterbury Irrigation Trust (SCIT) and power company Meridian to develop a commercially viable community irrigation scheme for South Canterbury. SCIT was formed by the mayors of Waimate, Mackenzie and Timaru District Councils.

Meridian Water Infrastructure Manager Brian Ellwood says while a final decision is not likely to be issued until after March 2010 the minute suggests the development of a flow regime for the lower Waitaki river which looks to be a workable solution.

“It appears to have established two bands. With one band being reserved for new users sharing flows between 152 and 175.5 cumecs“ .

Mr Ellwood says the minute raises three matters on which the commissioners request further information,

“Hunter Downs is assessing these and will make a full response to at a brief hearing scheduled for March. The resource consent hearing for this application was completed a little over two years ago, so we are pleased to have some progress towards a decision.“

The scheme would involve taking water from the lower Waitaki River and delivering it to an irrigable area of 40,000 hectares in the Waimate and Timaru districts. The water would be pumped from the Lower Waitaki River below Black Point through canals and piped to farmers’ gates.

ENDS

© Scoop Media