Labour Greens defeat Dobson dam

The Green and Labour Parties have sabotaged one of the most important regional development projects for the West Coast, Nelson and Marlborough, by voting down an amendment that would have allowed the Dobson Hydro Project," says Nelson MP Nick Smith.

"This is an appalling decision that puts a perverted green ideology ahead of common sense.

"This 60 megawatt station would make the West Coast self-sufficient in power, and enable power to be exported to growing areas like Nelson and Marlborough with the use of only 0.02% of the region's conservation land," Dr Smith said. Parliament last night rejected an amendment from Nelson M.P. Nick Smith to the Reserves and Other Lands Bill that lifted the reserve status of 493 ha of land required for the Dobson Hydro Project. The land makes up 5% of the Card Creek Ecological Reserve, the bulk of which was deemed of low conservation value in 1987 when it was allocated to Timberlands West Coast.

The National, United, NZ First and Act parties supported the Bill, whereas it was opposed by Labour and the Greens, and defeated.

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