Panel visits proposed scheme site

PENNY WARDLE

Reality check: Wairau Valley farmers John McLauchlan, left, and his wife Joan, third from left, describe the lie of their land to the Environment Court panel, which will determine whether TrustPower can build a hydro canal and power station on their property.

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The Environment Court panel considering whether TrustPower should be allowed to build a hydroelectric scheme on the Wairau took a break from reading evidence to visit the affected stretch of river last week.

Judge Gordon Whiting and commissioners Helen Beaumont, Alex Sutherland and John Miller were flown by helicopter from the Omaka airfield to Dip Flat at the head of the Wairau River on Thursday. They then drove the length of the proposed hydro-generation scheme with Ron Sutherland of Property and Land Management Services as their guide.

Lawson Davey, a field officer with Nelson Marlborough Fish & Game accompanied the group, to point out wildlife and anglers' routes to the river.

Following the visit, Wairau Valley landowner Pauline Doyle said she was "over the moon" the panel had made site visits a priority.

Farmers John and Joan McLauchlan, whose land could be crossed by the end-stretch of canal, walked its proposed route with the Environment Court panel and took them to the site where TrustPower intends to build a major power station on their property.

Ms Doyle, who is worried about flooding being caused by the scheme's spillways, showed the panel an area of land and road that could be affected.

Judge Whiting stressed the river tour was not an opportunity for people promoting or opposing the scheme to present their case.

On Friday, the group was to visit Alison Parr, who is also appealing a Marlborough District Council-appointed panel's 2008 decision to grant TrustPower resource consent to build the scheme.

- The Marlborough Express

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