Five farms declined water for major new irrigation schemes in the Omarama, Ohau and Mackenzie Basins have appealed that refusal to the Environment Court.
The companies, which include three which want to develop 16 new dairy farms with up to 17,850 cows in the Omarama and Ohau basins, were declined water resource consents by Environment Canterbury last month.
A panel which is considering 109 individual applications for water in the Upper Waitaki catchment west of the Waitaki dam refused the resource consents because its main concern was the cumulative effect on water quality in the region along with lack of information and research.
The Environment Court in Christchurch confirmed it yesterday received appeals from Five Rivers Ltd, Williamson Holdings, Southdown Holdings, Killermont Station and Lilybank Station against the panel's decision.
The timetable to consider those appeals is yet to be decided.
The appeals have been assigned to Judge Jon Jackson, who has dealt with other appeals related to the Waitaki catchment, including the Meridian Energy Ltd north bank tunnel concept electricity scheme and joint Meridian Energy Ltd-South Canterbury Irrigation Trust Hunter Downs irrigation scheme.
