In October and December 2006, Meridian Energy Limited lodged applications for a proposal called the North Bank Tunnel Concept, which would involve taking up to 260 cubic metres per second of water from the Lower Waitaki River, above Black Point, for hydroelectricity generation. The proposal involves returning the same volume of water to the river at Black Point.
You can visit Meridian Energy for further information about the proposal, and copies of the assessment of environmental effects of the applications.
As with the Hunter Downs Irrigation Scheme proposal, applications relating to the North Bank Tunnel Concept were publicly notified in May 2007; and, similarly, there were over 400 submissions on the applications and over 200 submitters wishing to speak at the public hearing. The North Bank Tunnel Concept applications hearing was held in August 2007, prior to the Hunter Downs Irrigation Scheme application, and was adjourned in October, in order that the hearing panel could consider other applications in the Waitaki Catchment before issuing a decision.
Decision
Final decision
Read the final decision (pdf 1.8 MB)
The final decision states that the interim decision should be read with the final decision for a full understanding of the outcome of the proceedings:
Interim decision
Interim decision - pages 1-70 (pdf 4.18 MB)
Interim decision - pages 71-140 (pdf 4.27 MB)
Interim decision - pages 141-209 (pdf 3.89 MB)