The Malvern Hills Protection Society Inc
C/- Lower High St Coalgate
Newsletter August 2007
Dear MHPS Members,
Thanks
Firstly, thanks for all the support the Society has received over the last few weeks. It appears the publicity designed to discredit the Society before the Environment Court case, has encouraged more people to join the Society. We have received several new memberships, more offers of funding and offers of free professional assistance. We received e.mails, phone calls to the Executive committee and others wrote letters to the media and to Councillors and MPs. Yesterday we received a copy of a great letter to the Prime Minister indicating the writer's strong views in opposition to the Requiring Authority status granted to CPW. More letters like this will increase the profile of this issue and make politicians aware of the community's strong feelings regarding the growing water crisis in Canterbury.The increasing support has been very reassuring, and whilst the Court decision was disappointing, it will not detract from the serious environmental and social issues we all face as result of the Central Plains Water project.
Environment Court Decision
On August 9 2007, Judge Jeff Smith delivered a 27 page decision on the Society’s application. In summary, the Court refused to make the declaration sought by the Society on the grounds that our application was unsupported by facts, had no sound legal basis and was “frivolous and vexatious”.
We were surprised by this decision as we had taken sound legal advice from one of the country’s leading environmental law firms, Anderson Lloyd. We were seeking clarification of the scope of the Requiring Authority and we certainly received that. We were shocked to discover that the scope of the Requiring Authority gazetted by the Minister was far wider than what was applied for.
We are seeking independent legal advice on appeal and we will be working to minimise any costs awarded against the Society and need to reassure members that there is no personal liability involved.
We have attached last Saturday's Press article "In defence of their land" profiling the MHPS.
This article went some way in redressing some of the negative publicity preceding the Court case.
Annual General Meeting
The date for the AGM is Monday September 24, Glentunnel Hall at 7.30pm.
Supper to follow, all welcome.
Guest speakers: Eugenie Sage and Jane Demeter. Both Eugenie and Jane are members of the Society and are standing as independent candidates for Environment Canterbury in the next election.
Nominations for elected positions on the Executive committee may be by way of written nomination signed by a current member, and given to the Secretary, Liz Weir, Lower High Street, R D Coalgate at least 7 days before the AGM.
Central Plains Water Hearing
The date for the Joint Hearing has now been deferred to February 2008. Ecan informed us that this deferral was at the request of the applicant, CPW.
Elections
There are a number of public meetings organised prior to the local elections. Many candidates are standing to profile the water issues in Canterbury. Please question candidates in your electorate on where they stand on Central Plains Water???
Your Water Under Threat
Questions on CPW will be put to three CCC candidates and five Ecan candidates
at a Public Meeting hosted by the North Canterbury Branch of The Royal Forest and Bird Society on the 19th Sept at the Aurora Centre, Burnside High School Hall 7pm.
The MHPS has agreed to make a short introductory presentation to this meeting.
Website
Our website has been refreshed and updated. We suggest you take a look at www.stopthedam.org.nz and please circulate wherever possible. Our message needs to reach a much wider audience.
Welcome back to our Secretary, Liz Weir, who has just returned from two months overseas. Special thanks to Maureen Robertson, Bronwyn Horner and Barry Mathers for helping to run things while Liz was away.
Regards to all,
Rosalie Snoyink
Liz Weir