An appeal by Fish & Game against the board of inquiry decision granting consent to the Ruataniwha Dam has been labelled a delaying tactic by Hawke's Bay Regional Council's investment company.
Hawke's Bay Regional Investment Company (HBRIC) says it will continue working to secure contracts with farmers wanting to take water from the Ruataniwha irrigation scheme despite Fish & Game's appeal.
The board of inquiry decision granted consents for the dam and set environmental conditions for the Tukituki catchment under a management plan known as Plan Change 6.
HBRIC chief executive Andrew Newman said the company was confident the board decision provided a workable consent for the Ruataniwha water storage scheme (RWSS) and it would be advising councillors of this at a council on July 30.
"HBRIC Ltd is also of the view that the RWSS combined with the Tukituki plan change will deliver environmental improvements for the river and a more resilient and prosperous economy," Mr Newman said.