Another nine decisions have been released on resource-consent applications for water for irrigation in the upper Waitaki catchment.
One applicant with two separate schemes has been refused water; another two were granted water providing they meet requirements by an Environment Canterbury panel.
Those applicants are part of 33 applicants for 104 resource consents covering up to 18,000ha of irrigation in the upper Waitaki catchment west of the Waitaki dam.
About 60 of the applications date back before 2004, but were put on hold when the Government appointed a board to prepare a water allocation plan as part of Meridian Energy's Project Aqua power scheme.
After that, Environment Canterbury appointed a hearings panel of Christchurch lawyer Paul Rogers (chairman), Kaiapoi environmental consultant Mike Bowden; cultural authority Edward Ellison of Otago Peninsula; water quality consultant Jim Cooke of Wellington, which started hearing the applications in September, 2009.
The first decisions were released in November, at which time the panel outlined in a separate decision how they would be considered.
The panel considered water quality to be the most critical issue in considering whether to grant or decline consents.
They said the main potential for adverse environmental effects was the enrichment of surface waters due to leaching and/or the transport of nutrients from irrigated pasture to groundwater and then to streams, rivers and lakes.
Tangata whenua values were considered by the hearing commissioners, who concluded effects would be more than minor and would compromise efforts to restore mahinga kai areas.
Decision released yesterday were. -
Killermont Station Ltd: One consent for water from Manuka Creek to irrigate 141ha: Interim decision granting consent subject to provision of an environmental monitoring programme.
Twin Peaks Station Ltd: Two consents for water from Manuka Creek to irrigate 72ha. Interim decision granting consent subject to provision of an environmental monitoring programme.
Bellfield Land Company Ltd (Quailburn Downs): Two consents for water from Hen Burn to irrigate 52ha. Granted.
Bellfield Land Company Ltd (Quailburn Downs): Two consents for water from Quail Burn to irrigate up to 190ha. Granted.
D.N. McAughtrie (Willowburn): Two consents for water from an existing water race from Wairepo Creek to irrigate 85ha. Granted.
D.M. McAughtrie, Ellis-Lea Farms Ltd and Greenfield Rural Opportunities Ltd (Willowburn, The Glens and Riverside): Three consents for water to replace existing consents from Quailburn race to irrigate up to 85ha. Granted.
Otematata Station Ltd: Six consents for taking of water from Glen Bouie Creek via Backyard Stream for storage to irrigate 30ha. Granted.
Maree Horo (Ribbonwood Station): Four consents for water from Quail Burn and East Diadem Stream to replace consents which expired in October, 2001, to irrigate 180ha. Declined.
Maree Horo (Ribbonwood Station): One consent for water from Ahuriri River to replace consents expired October, 2001, to irrigate up to 300ha. Declined.
