The Environment Canterbury panel considering more than 100 applications for water, mainly for irrigation, from the upper Waitaki catchment above the Waitaki dam says it is not possible to set a date when the decision will be released.
The applications include proposals to establish 16 dairy farms, with a total of up to 17,850 cows on three properties in the Ohau and Omarama areas, although alternative uses for the properties have also been put forward.
In a memorandum, panel chairman Paul Rogers said the commissioners had received requests to provide an update on progress on decision considerations and an idea of when the decision might be available.
While it was understandable all participants were keen to have a decision delivered as soon as possible, it would take a considerable period of time to arrive at one, given the number of issues and their complexity and the volume of evidence produced, Mr Rogers said.
The Canterbury earthquakes had affected the timing of the release.
The September earthquake destroyed one of the commissioner's offices, while the February earthquake affected another commissioner's office, Mr Rogers said.
