Rakaia plan favoured

Press, 1 June 1984, Page 12

Rakaia plan favoured

The Canterbury United Council is likely to support the draft Rakaia River conservation order when appeals against it are heard later this year. The chairman of the council’s regional planning committee, Mr T. M. Inch, has said he was disappointed that the draft was to go to appeal, “and it looks like it is going to be an extensive one.” The United Council had supported the draft order as a realistic measure forsafe-

guarding the conservation and recreational values of the river. Mr Inch said he was particularly concerned that the appeals might take the final decision out of the Canterbury region. “I doubt that we will get a better decision through this,” he said. A Federated Farmers representative, Mr A. G. Dunlop, said he would like to see the regional planning committee oppose any application to

further restrict extraction of water from the river as this would hinder irrigation. The director of regional planning, Mr Graham Miller, said the exact grounds of the appeals were still unclear. When these were clarified he would be able to advise the committee on its appropriate role, but the council had already resolved to be represented separately at any appeal against the order.