The Clutha District Council is reserving the right to
formally review a proposal by Contact Energy to build up to
two dams in its patch of the Clutha River.
Councillors recently agreed the council should remain neutral
for now and wait for further details of the proposal before
it decides whether it should take a stance.
Contact is revisiting old plans to build up to four dams on
the river - Queensberry, Luggate, Beaumont and Tuapeka Mouth
- and hopes to announce its preferred option early next year.
Council planning and environment manager Murray Brass asked
the regulatory services committee to consider what stance, if
any, the council should take, given the "substantial public
interest" in the matter.
"In doing so, council should be aware that there will be
district residents and ratepayers who stand to be seriously
impacted by hydro development, while others could
significantly benefit.
There may also be major effects on council's own
infrastructure, especially roading," he said.
The council may be involved in the resource consent process
if Contact pushes ahead with dams at either Beaumont and/or
Tuapeka Mouth.
Mr Brass said the council had three options - to stay neutral
throughout the process, take a stance or remain neutral until
the proposals are further developed.
The committee chose the last option.
Mr Brass said the council, by taking this approach, could
adopt a "wait-and-see" attitude to the proposals.
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