Region needs dam, says WIL chairman
The Tasman District Council decision to effectively drop the Waimea dam project is unfathomable, says Waimea Irrigators Ltd (WIL) chairman Murray King.
WIL was a partner with the council in the $102 million project, and in April reached a target of commitments for 3000 water shares to help fund its share of the project, which has been in the pipeline for about 15 years.
King was in the council chamber for the discussion and vote, and said he was gutted by the result. ‘‘It’s absolutely unfathomable.’’
The decision to effectively can the project did not solve the problem of providing a secure water supply, he said.
‘‘All of the alternatives are more costly and only solve half the problem, insofar as they only look after the urban water issues in the short term. If the opponents were really concerned about rates, they would have taken that into consideration.’’
King said he would now speak to the board of WIL, which had run its side of the project ‘‘on the smell of an oily rag’’.
‘‘We’ve put up our own money and guaranteed bank loans, so it’s not as if irrigators haven’t been contributing.’’
King tipped that all of the government support for the project would now evaporate.
‘‘I just can’t understand why you would vote against that $40m-$50m that is coming from central Government by way of low interest and nil interest [loans] and grants,’’ he said. ‘‘That you would give that away with socalled concern for ratepayers. It just lacks logic.’’
He said the decision would have serious consequences for WIL shareholders and land users, who would now be re-evaluating their future in the region.
‘‘We are shocked. After nearly two decades of work confirming the dam is the best option to solve the region’s acute water shortage crisis, this decision is beyond disappointing.’’
The ‘‘no’’ decision also had ‘‘significant negative consequences’’ for the environment, King said.
‘‘Our environment, particularly the Waimea River, will suffer as a result of this decision. How does the Tasman District Council plan to meet its local and central government obligations for maintaining a healthy river?’’