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MAJAC application to vary the Buller River Water Conservation Order

MAJAC Trust have applied to the Minister for the Environment to have the Water Conservation (Buller River) Order 2001 amended. The Minister has accepted this application. (Acceptance of the application allows it to be considered on its merits. It does not constitute any form of approval for the application.)

Other information in this section:

This has been referred to the Environment Court. The Environment Court released its decision on 3 August 2007. A copy of the decision is available from the Environment Court (Decision number 102/2007).

The Minister has made a decision to decline the MAJAC application for a variation to the Buller water conservation order (PDF 18KB).

The Water Conservation (Buller River) application

The Buller Water Conservation Order (the "Order") came into force on July 2001. The Order lists the waters of the Buller River and tributaries that are to be retained in their natural state or protected because of the outstanding characteristics, features and values of the waters. The Order specifies the restrictions on damming, on alteration of river flow or form, on alteration of lake levels, requirements to maintain fish passage, restrictions on the alteration of water quality and conditions that apply to Lake Matiri and Matiri River.

The MAJAC application to vary the Buller Water Conservation Order

The application from MAJAC Trust requests that the Order be amended to allow it to apply to the Tasman District Council for resource consent to divert water from the Gowan River for a Hydroelectric power scheme. The water would then be returned to the river approximately 3.5 kilometres before the Gowan and the Buller Rivers join.

MAJAC is seeking a change to section 8 of the Order which sets out the restriction on alterations of river flow and form.

Please email wco@mfe.govt.nz if you have any questions about the application.