https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1312/S00346/tukituki-catchment-proposal-board-of-inquiry-hearing-day-16.htm
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Tukituki Catchment Proposal–Board of Inquiry Hearing Day 16 |
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Tukituki Catchment Proposal –Board of Inquiry Hearing
Day 16 – 10 December 2013
Horticulture New Zealand (continued from Monday 9 Dec)
Counsel for Horticulture NZ says the organisation is asking for more water to be available for root stock protection in Tukituki Plan Change 6. It continues to be in discussions with Hawke’s Bay Regional Council regarding this.
It also wants the plan to increase the minimum flow to 5,200 litres per second in 2023 to be deferred for 10 years and reviewed in 2023.
Witnesses called:
• Sinclair Knight Merz Senior Hydrologist - Dr Philip Jordan developed a SOURCE model to test the effects of Tukituki Plan Change 6 & Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme on water quality and quantity in the Tukituki Catchment. He told the board both SOURCE and the TRIM model developed by NIWA were adequate for the task and both had relative strengths.
• Sinclair Knight Merz Senior Hydrogeologist – Tim Baker provided groundwater expertise to Horticulture NZ in relation to Tukituki Plan Change 6.
• Sinclair Knight Merz Hydrogeologist – Kolt Johnson assessed the impact to instream physical habitat for three management fish species from various minimum flows.
• Sinclair Knight Merz Environmental Team Leader and Senior Urban and Regional Planner – Hamish Peacock provided planning evidence on both the RWSS and Plan Change 6. Mr Peacock was asked by the board whether growers should start looking at alternatives for water if minimum flows are to increase, Mr Peacock agreed.
Environmental Defence Society
Counsel for Environmental Defence Society (EDS) says it supports Plan Change 6 to establish freshwater objectives and set limits to avoid over-allocation in terms of water quality and quantity, however EDS has concerns as to whether Plan Change 6 will achieve this. It believes a single nutrient approach is risky and believes a dual management approach is most appropriate.
EDS believes the RWSS will lead to deterioration in water quality and will not promote sustainable management so should not gain resource consent.
Witnesses called:
Cato Bolam Consultants Limited Director and Planning Manager - Peter Reaburn
To read daily transcripts from the hearing follow this link:
ENDS