The 10-year saga of Central Plains Water’s (CPW) battle to bring water from the Waimakariri and Rakaia Rivers to 60,000ha of Central Canterbury seems set to run for a bit longer yet.


Six parties have appealed last month’s consent decision, including CPW itself.


Chairman Pat Morrison says changes to the “holiday rule” restrictions are the main concern. The 12-hour/day extraction limit from the Waimakariri from December 21 to February 15, and on weekends, public holidays and specified holiday periods between October and Easter, would require spending an extra $7 million on storage.


“At the hearings it was talked about limiting this to two months, so we’d like to see it changed back to that,” he told Rural News.


CPW also seeks an amendment to statements regarding when it would use its acquiring authority to reflect that it may be used to build pipeline, but not for canal work.


Of the other appellants, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu appears the most problematic for CPW, as it “appeals the decision in its entirety”, saying it was “wrong in law” as commissioners had no jurisdiction once the Waianiwaniwa Valley storage dam was ruled out.


Even if the decision is proved lawful, Ngai Tahu says CPW provided insufficient evidence about effects of the redesigned scheme, which is also opposed on cultural grounds, including the mixing of waters from two rivers.


Christchurch City Council seeks greater protection for future drinking water supplies, while North Canterbury Fish & Game’s appeal majors on loss of amenity values and failure to meet various regional plan requirements.