Valetta groundwater zone decision

A final decision on the Valetta and Ashburton groundwater zones has been issued by the Hearing Commissioners appointed by Environment Canterbury.

Hearing Commissioners Paul Rogers and Tom Heller indicated in their 30 April 2010 interim decision that consents would be granted based on the available groundwater in the Valetta and Ashburton zones. Only 30 per cent of the requested additional allocations could be met in the two zones.

The final decision confirms 31 consent applications have been granted in the Valetta zone, and 18 consent applications in the Ashburton zone, based on priority of consent notification. Twenty-nine consent applications were declined in the two zones.

Don Rule, Environment Canterbury’s Director of Resource Planning and Consents, said the decision has resulted in applicant group representatives approaching Environment Canterbury to discuss options for applicants, including those who had consents declined.

“Environment Canterbury is prepared to work with applicants to find alternate ways forward, within the environmental limits set by the decision.”

“The Valetta and Ashburton final decision is notable as it is the first time commissioners have declined consents for a large multi-applicant hearing in an over-allocated red groundwater zone,” said Don Rule.

All parties have been advised of the final decision and there is a 15 working day period for appeals to be lodged with the Environment Court.

A downloadable PDF of the final decision is available on the Environment Canterbury website www.ecan.govt.nz.

ENDS

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