Dam backers concerned about stalled progress

Matthew Lawson (left), Russell Howie and Lester Chisholm, chairman, during the Ruataniwha board of inquiry in Napier. Photo / Paul Taylor

The board of inquiry into the Ruataniwha dam heard yesterday that the project's backers have concerns a reconvened inquiry process could be "gamed" by opponents in a bid to delay progress on the planned irrigation scheme.

The board was established in 2013 to consider resource consents for the Ruataniwha water storage scheme (RWSS) and a related change to environmental rules in Central Hawke's Bay's Tukituki catchment.

Aspects of its decision, which included granting consent to build the dam, were challenged in the High Court late last year with the court ordering the board to reconvene to rework one of the conditions it set under the catchment environmental framework known as Plan Change 6.

That reconsideration took a step forward yesterday when the board held a "conference" in Napier for lawyers representing parties involved in the court action, along with other submitters to the original inquiry. It was an opportunity for the parties to put forward their views.

The Ruataniwha dam is being promoted by Hawke's Bay Regional Council and its investment arm, Hawke's Bay Regional Investment Company (HBRIC).

The High Court challenge to the board of inquiry's decision was mounted by environmental groups Fish & Game, Forest & Bird and the Environmental Defence Society.

A lawyer for the regional council and HBRIC, Trevor Robinson, told yesterday's hearing the board needed to set clear "demarcations of how long parties have to confer" ahead of its new deliberations.

Mr Robinson said HBRIC had "a very real concern" about "gaming of the consultation process designed to frustrate the RWSS".

The chairman of the board of inquiry, retired High Court judge Lester Chisholm, said the board would include a time frame as part of its directions on how it would proceed.

"We're conscious, as is everyone, that this matter shouldn't be allowed to drag on indefinitely," he said.

HBRIC has given itself until the end of March to achieve "financial close" on the project, otherwise it will need to source additional funding from the council or elsewhere to continue its work on the project.