Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Dam promoters look to acquire land under Public Works Act

Dam promoters look to acquire land under Public Works Act


Wednesday 28 September- In an extraordinary move, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Investment company has said it’s taking the first step in the process of acquiring land needed for the Ruataniwha Dam under the Public Works Act.

The company also today applied for leave to appeal a Court of Appeal decision that found a DOC land swap for the dam was illegal.(1) It intends to pursue both avenues in parallel.

“Not content with appealing a major court decision using public money, HBRIC also looks set to run roughshod over the law and public opinion and try to forcibly remove this piece of public conservation land,” said Greenpeace Sustainable Agriculture campaigner Genevieve Toop.

“This is a hugely controversial move. If HBRIC continues down this path there’s going to be a massive public outcry.

“Apart from anything else, they should not be considering removing public land for a private irrigation scheme that will only benefit 192 landowners.”

Jim Scotland of HBRIC told a Hawke’s Bay Regional Council meeting today that HBRIC were going ahead with an application under the Public Works Act “for the whole of the reservoir and dam footprint area...”

“This shows an extraordinary level of arrogance and presumption,” said Genevieve Toop.

She said the Crown would ultimately have to sign off the land acquisition. “The good news is, I cannot see how John Key would dare step into this fight - not with the controversy surrounding the dam and not with the state of water quality in Hawke’s Bay.”

Greenpeace is calling for the dam to be scrapped, because it will mean more industrial dairy farming and further pollution of local waterways in Hawke’s Bay.


(1) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11718486

ends

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.