17 July 2015

Water Scheme consent confirmation great news for the region

The Chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council says confirmation of Tukituki Plan Change 6 and consents for the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme is good news for the region.

The appeal period for the Board of Inquiry’s final decision on the Plan Change and water scheme consents has closed with the High Court advising there have been no appeals lodged.

Fenton Wilson says the confirmation is another step in the process to decide whether the $275 million Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme will proceed.

“This confirmation means we are one step closer to the potential development of a scheme which would inject millions of dollars into the region through its construction, on-farm development and further processing opportunities, as well as creating more than 2,000 jobs and giving us a better result for the Tukituki River,” says Mr Wilson.

He says there has been a lot of hard work done so far and still more to come, including a big decision by Council to decide whether to confirm its $80 million investment in the scheme.

Mr Wilson says the confirmation is also great news for Tukituki Plan Change 6.

“Preparation work is well underway for implementing the Plan Change and this confirmation means we can go ahead with more certainty.”

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