Greetings All,
 
CPW Hearing
The date for the CPW Hearing has been set for 11 June 2007.  This date is subject to CPW providing the further information requested by Ecan and SDC.  There may be only 3 months remaining to prepare evidence, organise expert witnesses and legal advice for the Hearing.  This is a huge task and the MHPS committee will be working hard to ensure that the Society's presentation to the Hearing reflects the concerns of its membership.
 
Commissioners
Ecan has appointed four commissioners for the CPW Hearing.
They are: Philip Milne (Chair), Dr Greg Ryder, Robert Schofield and        Raymond O`Callaghan.
According to a Rural Report 28 March `07     Newstalk ZB
Dr Greg Ryder has resigned…………………

One of four commissioners tasked with the job of hearing and deciding on the
future of a major irrigation scheme in Canterbury has resigned.
In September last year Doctor Greg Ryder, a water quality and ecology
scientist and director of Ryder Consulting Limited was appointed to consider
Central Plains Water Trust's 55 resource consent applications.
The consents relate to the taking, using and discharging of water from the
Waimakariri and Rakaia Rivers.
ECan's consent hearings officer Donald Fraser says Doctor Ryder stood down
as he considers he may have a conflict of interest because of a party who
has submitted in opposition to the proposal.
He says a replacement will be appointed by ECan and the Selwyn District
Council within the next few days and maintains the development won't hold up
any of the process.
 
Membership and public support
Thanks to all who have renewed their membership and sent donations to help fight the campaign.  
Intending members should contact:
Secretary MHPS,  Liz Weir, Lower High St, Coalgate.  

We still have fund raising  CD's available   ~Up the Creek~  ($20 ea).
The Darfield Gun Club is organising a Clay Target Shoot fundraiser for the MHPS, Sunday April 22 on Craig & Sally Robertson's farm, Malvern Hills Road.
This is a fun day out and beginners are welcome. For more details contact Murray Robertson  Ph 03 318 1728.
The growing opposition to Central Plains Water and the continued financial support from MHPS members and the wider public heartens us.

Ashburton Community Water Trust scheme
On 2 March '07, ACWT applied to Ecan and to Ashburton District Council for various applications in relation to their proposed take from Rakaia River.   The ACWT are joint applicants with CPW.
Key points from the Rakaia Tce Hydro Scheme AEE are:
" 4 year project, locality Highbank - Barrhill area - south bank of the Rakaia River
" significant overlaps with Barrhill-Chertsey scheme
" first step to another large irrigation scheme
" take up to 40 cumecs from the Rakaia river
" intake 5km down from Rakaia Gorge at Happy Valley   
" 45m wide `bench` for canal, along and up the south bank of the Rakaia river for 14 km
" up to 4 power stations will be applied for
" all consents for a 35 year term
These applications are awaiting notification.
 
Consultants Neil Borrie and John Bright of Aqualinc Research Ltd and Steve Woods and Kirsty Ferguson of MWH prepared the AEE
 

It's interesting to note that this proposal was missed entirely by Selwyn District Councillors at the SDC meeting last Wed. 28 March `07. It was on the agenda in the CPW Chairman's  6 monthly Report, yet no-one referred to it or asked any questions about such a huge project being planned for the Rakaia River,  a river with a Conservation Order and of national and international significance.
 
Since  the original application in 2001 to take 40 cumecs of  water from the Rakaia,  and share equally with CPW and ACWT,  we have heard nothing or seen  any reports or news articles of a Rakaia River south bank project.   
There should now be a national focus on the Rakaia River with a proposal of this magnitude planned for the river.
We are unsure how the latest AWCT applications will also affect the CPW Hearing  date??
 

 
The Ashburton Community Water Trust is:
 
Executive Officer          Eric Weir
Trustees                        Eddie Glass,  Don Church,  Bob Engelbrecht,  Derek Newton,
                                       The Ashburton DC  Mayor, The President of MC Fed. Farmers
                                       and one other co-opted member, Stuart Wilson, (Alister Argyle  
                                       resigned?)
 
Contact details:      PO Box 425 Ashburton  acwt@xtra.co.nz     Ph. 03 302 6914

Longer Tunnel Option
The latest changes to the CPW scheme received much publicity. The changes affect very few landowners and do not allay the many concerns in relation to the overall impacts of the CPW scheme.  At first we assumed the tunnel would replace the intake canal above the Kowai confluence, but have since learned there is no change to this intake and canal system.  We understand the tunnel option will have to be publicly notified.   This will mean more submissions and possible delays to the Hearing.

Ngai Tahu Appeal
From the CPW  Chairman's report for 6 months ended 31 December 2006…
 
…"To challenge the High Court decision the Trust has `applied for leave to appeal` the decision. The system does not allow CPW to go straight into another appeal process;  rather we must obtain the court's permission.
It's important to note that if CPW do not appeal the decision, the scheme still remains viable. The changes that would need to be made to the scheme to accommodate not having access to `A Permit` water could be managed at a cost. CPW would need to modify the scheme. however this would have no impact on what the scheme is able to deliver to shareholders…………."
 
CPW Trustees
It appears as at 31 December 2006, the following CPW Ltd Directors have resigned from the Trust;
Willie Palmer, John Donkers and Bruce Irvine.
Doug Marsh and John Donkers have been re-appointed as Directors of CPWL.
Present Trustees are:
Doug Marsh, Doug Catherwood, Derek Crombie, Richard Davison, David Haslam, Claire Mulcock, Denis O`Rourke, Clare Williams and Viv Smart.

Regards
Rosalie Snoyink  and Liz Weir