The Great Wall of Coalgate

The Press

IN OPPOSITION: Coalgate couple Carol Thornton and Trevor Owen fear their backyard could be overshadowed by Central Plains Water Ltd's proposed dam. An artist's impression indicates what that might look like.

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Farms will be flooded, homes overshadowed and landowners potentially forced to sell up if the controversial Central Plains Water scheme goes ahead, opponents say.

They will begin their submissions on behalf of the Malvern Hills Protection Society to the resource consent hearing this week.

Society members have been vocal opponents of a scheme they say will devastate land and destroy a way of life some have known for decades.

They say landowners are being forced to give up land for the scheme, which will have no benefit for them, and they have not been properly consulted.

Trevor Owen has lived in Coalgate for 18 years and wife Carol Thornton for 35 years.

The couple say they have had few dealings with Central Plains Water Ltd, despite believing the 55m-high dam proposed as part of the scheme could be built just 20m from their house.

"Affected landowners, including ourselves, have been in a state of worry and despair for the last seven years, and will be called upon to give more by giving up all we have worked for on our own property," Owen and Thornton said.

Their concerns about the impact of the dam and its potential to burst have made them consider moving, but they fear the price of their property will plummet if the scheme goes ahead, limiting their options for relocation.

Brian Thompson said the lower parts of his farm, which he had worked for 15 years, would be flooded as part of the scheme.

He stands to lose 9ha and would see his farm split into three by new access roads.

"CPWL has caused us considerable financial cost, personal stress and sleepless nights over recent years," he said in his submission.

"I am angry that CPWL is taking so much of my time and energy in trying to defend our rights against the threat of their proposed scheme.

"It is our wish that CPWL would recognise the huge amount of opposition to their proposed scheme and withdraw their applications and just go away and leave us alone."

A Central Plains Water representative could not be reached for comment last night. However, in an earlier submission to the hearing, Erin Jamieson, whose company Convergence assists CPW with consultation, said meetings had been held with affected parties since the inception of the scheme in 2000.

They included a meeting in Coalgate in March 2006 to discuss a dam-safety report compiled on behalf of CPW.

CPW had endeavoured to communicate effectively with affected parties and many features of the scheme had been influenced by the consultation process, Jamieson said.

The hearing has also heard from engineers on behalf of CPW who said the dam would be constructed to internationally accepted standards and would have a low risk of failure.

The hearing will resume today when Ngai Tahu will continue its evidence.

The Malvern Hills Protection Society submissions will be heard next and are likely to take at least two days.

- © Fairfax NZ News