Hawke's Bay Fish and Game has made a legal challenge asking for information on the Tukituki Catchment Proposal to be released and for a time extension so it can prepare its submission to the board of inquiry.
Fish and Game's legal counsel Berry Simons Environmental Law has written a memorandum to the board contesting that the Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Dr Kit Rutherford and Niwa had failed to provide critical information on the proposal.
The information and data would help Fish and Game's experts prepare evidence for its submission on the proposal which must be handed in by October 8.
It wants the board to direct the regional council to provide data on a hydrology model and water quality by October 8 and requested its evidence be provided by October 22, rather than October 8. The changes would not delay the proposal's hearing which was set for November 18.
The regional council said it was working closely with key submitters on the Tukituki Catchment Proposal, as part of the board of inquiry process, led through the Environmental Protection Authority.
The council on Monday received a letter from Fish and Game requesting it and Niwa release a model relating to the Tukituki proposal, and that the timetable set by the board of inquiry be amended. The council planned to respond to the memorandum, and it would be up to the board of inquiry to determine the decision.
The model requested by Fish and Game, known as TRIM, had been developed by Niwa to support regional council's Tukituki Catchment Proposal.