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.
"It is unfortunate that Fish & Game has decided to appeal the board's final decision. There has been an extremely robust process resulting in what Fish & Game chief executive Bryce Johnson, said on June 30 'remains a significant victory for freshwater quality'," he said.
Mr Newman said Fish & Game's decision to appeal contradicted Mr Johnson's earlier statement and indicated the appeal was simply a delaying tactic.
Mr Johnson could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Mr Newman said HBRIC was working with farmers keen to sign water contracts with the scheme and would continue to do so despite the appeal and the company "has confidence" in the board of inquiry's decision.
Federated Farmers Hawke's Bay provincial president Will Foley said: "There has been a lot of focus on Hawke's Bay as a region in serious economic trouble and, guess what, we have a solution in Ruataniwha, as long as farmers can afford it and as long as it goes ahead.
"If there are obstacles to be overcome. we can do that with a little goodwill on all sides.
"I just hope Fish & Game's appeal is constructive and not destructive."