Rakaia River decision delayed

Press, 8 March 1984, Page 24

Rakaia River decision delayed

Wellington reporter

A decision on the Rakaia River is expected from the National Water and Soil Conservation Authority after a meeting on March 27.

It had been hoped that a decision would be made at the authority’s monthly meeting this week, but the committee set up to consider the Rakaia has not yet made its report.

A National Water Conservation Order is sought for the Rakaia by the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society and others. The authority set up a special committee to conduct hearings in Christchurch late last year, and report before the end of March.

On March 31, the authority will be disbanded and replaced by a differently constituted authority, under the Water and Soil Amendment Act, 1983.

Provision is in the legisla-

tion for the Rakaia committee to continue its deliberations but it is keen to report to the old authority. The March 27 meeting will not announce its decision. That will be communicated in writing to the parties involved before a public announcement is made.

If any of the parties dispute the decision, they can seek a new hearing before the Planning Tribunal, and ultimately appeal to the administrative division of the High Court, as occurred with the Clyde Dam decision which led the Government to pass its own empowering legislation. It is expected that the authority will try to seek a compromise between recreational and environmental demands on the Rakaia and the wish to abstract water for irrigation.

That may not leave any water for hydro-electricity generation in which the Ministry of Energy has shown interest.