A three-member hearings panel yesterday started considering 56 applications to use water in the Waitaki River below the Waitaki dam - for some applicants the first chance to put their case since they were filed up to 10 years ago.
It will take four weeks for the independent commissioners to hear those applications which are being processed by Environment Canterbury (ECan) under the Waitaki Catchment water allocation regional plan.
The applications were filed with ECan when the Government called them in and put them on hold while the Waitaki Catchment Water Allocation Board prepared the allocation plan, which came into effect in 2006, because of Meridian's Project Aqua power scheme which was cancelled in 2004.
First up is the Mid River New Application Group, which represents 18 applicants who have 35 applications to dam, divert, take and use surface and groundwater between the Waitaki dam downstream to Black Point.
They want to use water from the lower Waitaki, Hakataramea and Otekaieke Rivers and the Kurow Creek.
All but one want water for agricultural and horticultural use, the exception being for a community water supply.
One of the difficulties faced by applicants who want water from the main stem of the Waitaki River is the 150 million cubic metres a year of water already allocated between the Waitaki dam and Black Point in the allocation plan for agricultural and horticultural use - it is estimated 146.27 million cu m is being used.
Other difficulties include the allocation plan's 150 cumecs minimum flow for the Waitaki River and proposals by Meridian Energy Ltd to replace that with a variable flow of 100-150 cumecs for its proposed north bank tunnel concept power scheme and Hunter Downs Irrigation for a 100 cumecs minimum.
The group's legal counsel, Jane Borthwick, said it was estimated that existing users and new applicants wanted almost 154 million cu m of water a year, exceeding the plan's allocation.
She submitted the commissioners could conclude there would be no adverse effect on the environment by granting the extra volume of water.
Four broad issues are for consideration: The annual allocation between the Waitaki dam and Black Point of 150 million cu m a year; A minimum flow for some applicants that is less than the 150 cumecs in the allocation plan for the lower Waitaki River; Whether the reliability of supply of other water users would be affected; The management of nitrates and phosphates from increased irrigation.
Applicants wanted consents for 35 years.
ECan officers were recommending 10 to 15 years.
Last year in Timaru, the commissioners heard two applications: The Meridian Energy Ltd north bank tunnel-concept power scheme to take up to 260 cumecs of water from Lake Waitaki into a 34km-long tunnel with one powerhouse generating between 1100GWh and 1400GWh a year; The Meridian-South Canterbury Irrigation Trust Hunter Downs scheme to take up to 20.5 cumecs to irrigate up to 40,000ha in the Waimate and Timaru districts.
Decisions still have to be delivered on those.
