Water fight off to court

The battle over a water conservation order for the Hurunui River will head to the Environment Court next year.

Hearing commissioners have recommended protecting Lake Sumner and the river's north branch for their "outstanding values" – but gave no protection for the river's south branch, in which Hurunui Water Project (HWP) plans to build a 75-metre-high dam.

After an Environment Court pre-hearing callover yesterday, HWP project manager Amanda Loeffen said there was "not a lot of objection" to an adjournment application.

HWP and Forest & Bird have appealed against the hearing commissioners' decision.

Environment Court Judge Jane Borthwick set February 15 to hear arguments over a possible adjournment.

- © Fairfax NZ News