HBRIC Chairman pleased there are no appeals to RWSS consents

The Chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s Investment Company says HBRIC Ltd is very pleased that the Board of Inquiry process on the Tukituki Plan Change and consent conditions for the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme is now completed.

The High Court has advised that there have been no appeals to the Board’s final decision, which means it is now confirmed.

Andy Pearce says this is great news for the $275 million Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme, which has the potential to irrigate a further 25 to 30,000 hectares of land on the Ruataniwha Plains and lead to the creation of around 2,250 new jobs.

“With the Board of Inquiry consent process now completed it is full steam ahead to sign up farmers to buy enough water from the scheme to proceed and to confirm investors keen to invest in the scheme,” says Dr Pearce.

HBRIC Ltd will now reconsider and confirm a date for financial close, which is when a decision will be made whether to proceed with the scheme.

“Confirmation of the consents is great news for the RWSS project, which has the potential to provide Hawke’s Bay with a much needed economic boost, at the same time as improving the water quality and quantity in the Tukituki River.”

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