Govt ‘fears’ to go to tribunal over dam

Press, 18 June 1982, Page 4

Govt ‘fears’ to go to tribunal over dam

PA- Auckland The Government was not prepared to go back to the Planning Tribunal over the Clyde Dam issue because it feared losing, said Labour’s spokesman on constitutional affairs, Mr G. W. R. Palmer, yesterday. Mr Palmer rejected the idea put forward by the Government, that there

would be undue delays if the Planning Tribunal had to reconsider the. question of water rights. 'Tf the matter proceeded before the Planning Tribunal, the hearing would last about five days if the objectors were permitted to 1 call, evidence." Mr Palmer told the Environmental Defence Society at its annual meeting- I He said that if, for instance, there was an appeal to the High Court over the Planning Tribunal’s decision, presuming it favoured the Government, the High Court could hear'an appear within a month of the tribunal’s decision. A further appeal. to the

Court of Appeal Could then come within two weeks of the High Court decision. On the other hand, special legislation that the Government proposed would not be much , quicker’ as the bill would have to go before a select, committee,. ;. Mr Palmer said .the real point was that the Gdverment was not prepared to abide by /.the courts’ decisions. In this case, it would have to prove there was a firm smelter project to justify the dam, and it could not. ■- • ' In Cromwell • yesterday, Labour’s spokesman on labour, Mr T..K. Burke, said that. redesigning .'the Clyde dam from a high one to a low one could, provide a

Labour government with work-force deployment difficulties as the redesigning was being done, but this would be a "short-term problem." Labour policy on the Upper Clutha was being "fine-tuned," he said. . Mr Burke is one of three Labour members of Parliament visiting Cromwell. Twizel. and the Clyde dam

site this week to gauge local opinion, including meetings with fruitgrowers, union representatives, and P.S.A. members. Also on the trip is Labour’s spokesman on Energy, Mr D. J. Butcher, and on Works and Development, Mr F. M. Colman. A party of National members visited the area last week.