Court of Appeal decision on Land Exchange for Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme

Hawke’s Bay Regional Investment Company Ltd (HBRIC) says it will be discussing with the Department of Conservation the Court of Appeal’s direction that the Director General reconsider the revocation step of his decision regarding a land exchange for the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme.

Forest & Bird appealed a High Court decision upholding the Director-General’s decision to revoke 22 hectares of conservation land from the 94,000 hectare Ruahine Forest Park.

HBRIC Ltd Chairman Andy Pearce says HBRIC’s focus remains on confirming all elements of the scheme. In July Hawke’s Bay Regional Council agreed that three of the four conditions required for it to agree to invest $80 million in the irrigation scheme have been satisfied. These relate to consents for the scheme, the design and construction contract and water user uptake. The final condition relating to investment in the scheme is close to being satisfied.

4 November 2016

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