DOC does deal over hydro

The Department of Conservation has reached agreement with energy retailer TrustPower over its proposed hydro scheme in the Wairau Valley and will no longer give evidence at an Environment Court hearing appealing the scheme's resource consent in November.

In return, TrustPower would fund a $3 million management plan to protect black-fronted terns in the Wairau River.

DOC Nelson Marlborough conservator Neil Clifton announced today the department had reached an agreement with the TrustPower and had lodged a memorandum with the Environment Court outlining its proposed amendments to the resource consent's conditions.

The Marlborough Express reported three weeks ago that DOC was poised to pull its appeal against the scheme. Fish and Game was outraged earlier this year that DOC and TrustPower were having confidential discussions about the flow regime and the impact of the scheme on the habitat of black-fronted terns and dwarf galaxias fish.

Mr Clifton said the department had researched the black-fronted terns collaboratively with TrustPower experts over the past four breeding seasons. He said the scheme's flow regime was ''of less significance'' to the birds than initially thought.

Conditions of the agreement include TrustPower funding the black-fronted tern protection plan as well as requiring TrustPower to leave more water in the river during the critical October to January tern nesting season, which DOC says will provide 80 per cent habitat retention for mayflies, an important food source for black-fronted terns.

Conditions also include vegetation restoration, improved archaeological protocols, and ensuring a sustainable population of dwarf galaxias fish is retained in the river as an additional food source for black-fronted tern.

Copies of DOC's proposed amended resource consent conditions will be send to all appellants involved in the Environment Court hearing.

The Marlborough District Council granted TrustPower final resource consent for the scheme in August last year.

The proposed 48-kilometre canal along the southern slope of Wairau Valley above the township would have five generators and create up to 72 megawatts of power.

Environment Court rules mean even if DOC withdraws from submitting at the hearing, the department must formally present its decision to the court.

- The Marlborough Express

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