The appeal period for the Westland District Council decision granting land-use consents for a water export facility at Jackson Bay has passed without objection.
Okuru Enterprises Ltd has the right to take and export 800,000 tonnes of water from the alpine Tuning Fork Creek to a mono buoy anchored offshore from Jackson Bay and then to waiting ships for export.
Council-appointed commissioner Don Turley also recently granted consents for an extended pipeline and a bulk water storage facility at Neils Beach.
Affected parties had until yesterday to appeal the decision to the Environment Court. There were no appeals.
A West Coast Regional Council coastal permit that will deal with ballast waste issues is still pending.
Meanwhile, a current deed of easement with the Department of Conservation for the pipeline to cross conservation land expires in two years.
Conservation Minister Maggie Barry has said Okuru would need to apply for a new easement, which would be open to public scrutiny and submissions, when the current agreement expired in 2019.
- Janna Sherman
