Dam moratorium vote on cards

Regional councillor Peter Beaven put forward a recommendations to request HBRIC to place a moratorium on the dam. PHOTO/FILE

The Hawke's Bay Regional Investment Company has been requested to place a moratorium on the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme.

This came as part of an item before a Hawke's Bay Regional Council meeting today on the review of the scheme. The request was made during today's meeting, and will be voted on at their next meeting.

When the review was proposed earlier this month it was also recommended council consult with the HBRIC Board of Directors on issues stemming from any direction to suspend activities relating to the scheme, by way of a resolution to modify the company's Statement of Intent (SOI).

Today councillors voted on additional recommendations which would request the Hawke's Bay Regional Investment Company (HBRIC) implement a moratorium on the project.

Councillor Peter Beaven's recommendations were moved to be voted on next month with a majority five votes.

Councillors Debbie Hewitt, Alan Dick, and Fenton Wilson voted against it.

The moratorium would include ceasing any further expenditure on the RWSS design, development, or construction other than work currently committed or contracted, and not entering into any arrangement that would commit either HBRIC or HBRC to further expenditure or obligations.

Action from HBRIC has been limited as they are tied up in a court process involving 22ha of land needed for the project to proceed.

The moratorium would also include desisting from taking any further steps towards aqauiring DOC land under the PWA or by any other complusary means.

The moratorium would be subject to any consultation required between HBRIC and HBRC, with such consultation to be completed and reported upon by Decemeber 12.

It would continue until council received and considered the information and advice detailed in the review