Before and after images showing how the proposed Ruataniwha dam would affect the Central Hawke's Bay landscape.
Environmental group Forest & Bird is challenging a proposed land swap that could lead to 22 hectares of "high value" Department of Conservation (DoC) land flooded as part of the Ruataniwha dam project.
The DoC is running a formal review into the proposal to revoke conservation park status for the
land in the Ruahine Forest Park which would be flooded by the proposed Ruataniwha reservoir if the planned Central Hawke's Bay water storage scheme goes ahead.
In its submission to the review, Forest & Bird claims revoking the land's status and swapping it for a block of private land would be illegal. It says flooding the land would result in the destruction of river habitat and mature podocarp and beech forest that is home to several threatened wildlife species, including native bats.
"The Conservation Act does not allow specially protected land such as this to be swapped. This revocation is being proposed to get around the act's restrictions but it is unlawful," Forest & Bird group manager campaigns and advocacy Kevin Hackwell said.
But Hawke's Bay Regional Investment Company (HBRIC), the investment arm of the Hawke's Bay Regional Council that is promoting the Ruataniwha project, said the proposed land swap reflected the company's "commitment to doing the right thing".
