Groups drop river appeal

Two groups challenging the Wairau River hydro scheme have dropped their appeals at the start of an Environment Court hearing.

Jet Boating New Zealand and private firm Ormond Aquaculture dropped their appeals yesterday after reaching private agreements with electricity giant TrustPower.

They join the Department of Conservation, which dropped its legal challenge to the $280 million proposal in August.

The plan was given the go-ahead by the Marlborough District Council last year.

Yesterday's withdrawals leave only two major opponents – lobby group Save the Wairau and Fish & Game.

They argue that the scheme would drastically alter one of New Zealand's few remaining braided rivers and the environmental implications of diverting up to 60 per cent of its median flow at certain times have not been properly assessed.

Council lawyer John Maassen acknowledged public concern over the proposed 47-kilometre-long canal, describing what he termed the "tragic choices" facing local officials.

TrustPower's legal representative, Christian Whata, told the court that a range of independent experts confidently predicted "that the health of the river will be sustained".

Save the Wairau lawyer Mike Hardy-Jones told the court the generating capacity of the scheme would only amount to half of the increase in demand experienced each year by New Zealand.

"By the time the scheme is built, it will be inconsequential and perhaps unnecessary," he said.

Local landowner Alison Parr said that while she was not an expert, she had acquired a thorough understanding of the project.

"We are, on the other hand, experts on our own lives, our relationships with our neighbours and local community and life in the Wairau Valley," she said.

"To date, neither the experts nor anyone else from TrustPower has been able to convince us that the scheme does not pose a considerable threat to us."

- © Fairfax NZ News