ORC votes to transfer dam applications

OTAGO regional councillors have approved the transfer of consent applications for large dams to Environment Canterbury from June next year.

The decision follows a community consultation period during which no submissions were received.

The majority of councillors agreed during yesterday’s full council meeting that the benefits of the transfer would outweigh any negative impacts, and approved it.

Crs Gary Kelliher and Carmen Hope did not support the transfer.

Council consents manager Joanna Gilroy said earlier this year that there were several reasons behind the decision, including the cost of maintaining accreditation and that applications had been decreasing over the past three years — only one had been lodged in the past year.

The transfer will still require final approval by Environment Canterbury.