Fishing News index > January 2008

January 7, 2008

MEDIA STATEMENT

Central Plains Water Trust update

The commissioners hearing the applications associated with the Central Plains Water Trust proposal indicated prior to Christmas a preference for submitters to group together as best as possible where they have related issues in their submission.

To help facilitate this process Environment Canterbury (ECan) staff has placed on its website a list of common topics that have been raised by parties to assist them in coordinating the common topic grouping approach preferred by the commissioners.

Common topics raised by submitters include:

• Lower catchment drainage
• Loss of land/location of water distribution network
• Groundwater quality
• Ecological effects from river takes
• Safety – dam, intakes and bywashes
• Water quality and volume of lowland streams and Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora
• Effects from construction phase – amenity, noise, dust and traffic

ECan would like to encourage individuals to volunteer themselves as a point of contact for other submitters concerned about similar issues.

Anyone who wishes to volunteer time as a contact person please contact Donald Fraser Environment Canterbury’s Consents Hearing Officer via email. Donald.fraser@ecan.govt.nz

Future updates can be viewed on ECan’s website. www.ecan.govt.nz click on *Central Plains Water update*

For information: Donald Fraser, Consents Hearing Officer,
Environment Canterbury ddi 03 372 7088

A note from Fish & Game

The Hearing Commissioners have scheduled the hearing to begin on 25 February 2008. However submitters in opposition to the CPW scheme will not be heard until after April 21, with 15 major institutional and interest groups (such as Fish & Game) at the beginning followed by other groups and individual submitters. Pending any unexpected delays, Fish & Game believe May 2008 is when opposing individual submitters will be able to appear and voice their concerns.

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