Waimea Community Dam faces last hurdle

A long-term plan for the construction of a dam in Tasman District is in its last round.

A supporter of the Waimea Dam during an event.
Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal

The Waimea Community Dam was proposed for the first time in 2003.

Resource approvals were issued and quick work to revise staggered funding models was released.

But it remains a major obstacle to overcome before the end of the band, in the form of a pocket of land belonging to the Department of Conservation.

A special committee hearing in Richmond on Friday examined proposals for a bill to release nine hectares of Crown land in the Mount Richmond Regional Forest Park.

The Local Members Bill is promoted by the Tasman District Council and sponsored by the Nelson MP, Nick Smith.

Supporters insist that the bill be passed so that work on the $ 100 million project can begin.

Opponents have questioned its legality and the precedent it could create.

Forest and Bird said the bill that would allow the transfer of Crown land goes beyond the rules to protect protected lands.

The regional manager, Debs Martin, said the organization was not opposed to the dam, but that the land transfer was an assignment.

The group's lawyer, Sally Gepp, told the audience that she would open wider access to the protected lands.

"We are seeing a very sad situation in New Zealand and a reduction in protected conservation areas in New Zealand."

Fish and Game supported the bill, but asked that it be amended to ensure the protection of public access.

A planning official, Peter Wilson, said that despite their concerns, this project was the "least bad of the solutions" to solve Tasman's water shortages.

"Among the many proposed water storage systems in New Zealand, this one is one of the few that promotes environmental benefits, but like all irrigation systems, they need to central and local government assistance to proceed.

"It's the simple reality of water storage in the history of New Zealand."

Taxpayer Trish Palmer refuted Dr. Smith's claims that the public would have had ample opportunity to be informed of the project.

The council said that there had been about 200 meetings on the dam since the launch of the idea in 2003.

Ms. Palmer stated that she was caught off guard by what people had said and did not say.

"As a taxpayer, regardless of my feelings about the dam, I'm a little fed up with it, and I really would like to have the opportunity to sit down with someone and have them." let my questions answer. "

Former Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Morgan Williams, head of a local water advisory group, said the task of council had been entrusted.

"What he brought to light are the difficulties that small boards, especially unitary boards, have a dual role in. They have trouble managing large and complex infrastructure projects. , and the dialogue is dominated by the immediate cost to taxpayers. "

Opponents of Golden Bay were hoping for a more thoughtful response to their concerns than the one recently proposed by Cabinet Minister Shane Jones, who describes them as "lotus eaters".

He criticized their vehement stance on the dam when the government helped the community following the storm earlier this year, which cut road access over Takaka Hill.

Dr. Smith hoped to have a decision on the bill by Christmas.