One of the major opponents of a new hydro-electricity scheme on the lower Waitaki River has reached an agreement with Meridian Energy Ltd and will withdraw its appeal to the Environment Court against the proposed project.
The Waitaki Protection Trust, chaired by Wanaka businessman Bob Robertson, confirmed the agreement yesterday, which provides conditions for the protection of the river and its flow, including a promise by Meridian no new hydro-electric development will be carried out in the future on the lower river.
The trust was one of five appellants against the north bank tunnel concept (NBTC) and the withdrawal of its appeal potentially brings the project a step closer.
Yesterday, Meridian's communications director, Alan Seay, confirmed the company was seeking to resolve the appeals with Ngai Tahu and the other appellants.
"It is in everyone's interest to do so rather than go through the costs of a hearing," he said.
The agreement reached with the trust also includes an undertaking by Meridian to pay $286,000 in legal and expert witness costs incurred by the trust in fighting the granting of resource consents for the NBTC scheme, between the Waitaki dam and Stonewall on the north bank of the river.
Mr Robertson yesterday expressed satisfaction with the agreement and the end of a battle which started with Meridian's Project Aqua power scheme on the south bank of the river.
He estimated he had spent close to $500,000, mostly out of his own pocket, fighting Project Aqua and then the NBTC scheme.
Mr Robertson initially did not think an agreement could be reached.
The trust's intent was to stop Meridian taking water from the river for the NBTC scheme.
"Over the course of a few weeks of discussion, we felt eventually we may reach an agreement.
"We felt we could achieve a better outcome for the river by coming to an agreement, rather than fighting in the Environment Court.
"If the river volumes are going to be changed anyway, we felt the need to focus on ensuring the best outcomes to achieve a good long-term environment and habitat in the river under the new lower flow regime."
Mr Seay said the agreement reached provided for an understanding with the trust on how the two would work together.
"It means we can work in a collaborative way on a number of initiatives to be undertaken as part of the north bank tunnel project, if it goes ahead," he said.
Some of the provisions of the agreement include.
• Meridian not being able to on-sell any water allocated for NBTC.
• Meridian not seeking to vary the minimum specified flow rates for the river.
• Management of gorse and other brush weeds from the Waitaki dam to the sea.
• Creating 80ha of wetlands on land controlled by Meridian.
• Additional access to the river through land owned by Meridian, in consultation with interested groups, including walking, biking, vehicle and boat access.
The facts
- The Meridian Energy Ltd $900 million north bank tunnel concept power scheme is to take up to 260 cumecs of water from Lake Waitaki into a 34km-long tunnel with one powerhouse generating 1100-1400GWh a year.
- Environment Canterbury (ECan) granted four water-only resource consents in December to divert, take, use and discharge water for the new power scheme.
- Five appeals were filed with the Environment Court by the Waitaki Protection Trust, Ngai Tahu, River Management Society, Ngati Mamoe Fishers People, and Black Point farmer Garth Dovey.
- Court hearing: June 22 to July 3, Oamaru; July 6 to 17, Christchurch.
