The Tasman District Council voted the project over the line by nine votes to five for the dam to be built in the Lee Valley.
Waimea Irrigators chairman Murray King said the council vote marks a critical point in the controversial project’s life and means any further opposition through the Environment Court is unlikely.
“I believe the local community has started to realise the project is more critical than they first realised and it is amazing the number who say they cannot believe it has taken this long.”
The project was conceived in the 70s with a project intending to irrigate 7000ha.
The Lee Valley project was intended to culminate in construction kicking off in 2012 amid rising concerns the cost had pushed out to $40m. By late 2014 it reached $70m. The latest increases put the cost at $105.9m.
A critical local bill has to pass through Parliament to grant access to some conservation land. It passed its second reading in November, with a final reading likely before Christmas.
“And all parties with the exception of the Greens supported this. They seem to have concerns passing it will set a precedent but the point of a local bill is to enable local communities to seek something specific to their situation,” King said.
And with the project fully consented there is no reason why it can’t now kick off.
Construction of the 13.4m cubic metre capacity dam will be done by local contractors Taylors Contracting of Brightwater and Fulton Hogan. Both worked on the successful Central Plains water scheme.
Just before the council voted on the dam an anonymous flyer was sent to Brightwater residents claiming a tidal wave was likely should the dam fail. It was dismissed as scaremongering by ex-Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Morgan Williams.
King said the engineering plans have been thoroughly peer reviewed and there is a high degree of confidence around the project’s geotechnical integrity.
Cr Dana Wesley was one of those who voted against the dam.
Her concerns are about the level of credit risk the council faces as a major backer and the complexities of Waimea Irrigators’ structure.
Her concerns are particularly around how Waimea’s funding is structured after a mystery investor putting $11m into the project walked away. The shortfall has been covered by other investors in Waimea Irrigators. The council is investing about $30m in the project.
“For me it was a judgment call on behalf of the community.
“The cost has increased significantly and is that increase just a one-off or is it an upward trend? I can’t say hand on heart this is not an upward trend.”
However, she is heartened by the presence of three council-appointed directors on the dam board.
“If anyone can help keep this on budget, they will.”
She is also philosophical about the dam’s direction from here.
“I just hope people will now give this venture the ability to move forward. We do not want to see lots of ongoing challenges that will only add to the future cost.”
Dam opponent Brian Halstead said further court challenges are unlikely.
“The only thing we really have is some sort of intervention from (Conservation Minister) Eugenie Sage. We know she is not happy about it. There are not too many other options left to us.”
