Date to seal river’s fate

Press, 4 August 1983, Page 2

Date to seal river’s fate

Wellington reporter A special meeting will be held in Christchurch in October to decide the fate of the Rakaia River. The National Water and Soil Conservation Authority will hold its monthly meeting in Christchurch on October 4, and then consider the Rakaia on October 5 to 7. A national water conservation order has been sought for the Rakaia by several parties, and the Minister of Works and Development, Mr Friedlander, has agreed that the river’s future should be settled in that way. The public notice on the order was issued on July 27 and the deadline for public submissions is August 24. The terms of the order

will decide the allocation of the Rakaia’s water — including what may be drawn off for irrigation and/or hydro-power generation. A water right will be issued by the authority after the hearing. But any of the parties involved may seek a further hearing with the Planning Tribunal if dissatisfied with the authority’s decision, with the possibility of a

further appeal to the Administrative Division of the High Court.