CPW a waste of money, time, says farmer

A Waianiwaniwa Valley farmer is annoyed that Central Plains Water Ltd (CPW) has "wasted" time and money on the project.

Craig Robertson, who would lose about half his 450-hectare Canterbury property and a refurbished 140-year-old house if the proposed dam went ahead, said he was sorry for the scheme's investors.

The controversial $409 million CPW irrigation scheme was in doubt after consent hearing commissioners signalled last week that they were likely to reject plans for the 55-metre-high dam and reservoir near Coalgate, about 60 kilometres west of Christchurch.

"It's a pity they've [CPW] gotten away with spending all that money; a lot of people knew it would never go through," Robertson said. "A lot of people like us in the valley are not against irrigation, but against how they were going to do it."

On Friday, the commissioners took the unusual step of announcing they would allow CPW to explain how the scheme might work without the dam and reservoir.

An "all or nothing" approach could waste the significant effort put into the hearing by submitters and regional and district council officers, they said.

However, Malvern Hills farmer Richard Friedman, a CPW shareholder, would not rule out the dam proposal before he had viewed the decision details.

"If it failed on social reasons, it's still technically feasible."

No "sound" technical reasons for the dam not to be built were presented at the hearing, he said.

"If they could get over that (social) barrier, the valley still suits a storage site."

CPW chairman Pat Morrison did not expect to gain consent for the dam.

"That's what the commissioners have said, and they're the bosses," he said yesterday.

The company would still seek approval for the main canal and delivery races, he said.

The commissioners said a "tentative" conclusion had been reached that lower water takes than those being sought from the Waimakariri and Rakaia rivers might be granted.

The CPW scheme consent hearing would reopen on May 11 to decide whether to issue a final decision or allow further evidence from CPW, the commissioners said.

Malvern Hills Protection Society spokeswoman Rosalie Snoyink expected the dam to be rejected.

"I can't see that the commissioners would indicate this way, and give relief to the valley landowners, then reverse their decision," she said.

The commissioners faced an "impossible job" during the first hearing, she said.

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