Opponents of a Canterbury irrigation scheme have begun outlining their concerns about the revised project, at a resource consent hearing in Christchurch.
Backers of the Central Plains Water Enhancement Scheme this week presented plans for a down-scaled project to a panel of commissioners who rejected an earlier version of the scheme.
The new proposal would no longer decimate homes and farmland, but would still be constructed across 60 Canterbury farms and alter the levels of water in the Waimakariri and Rakaia rivers.
Opponents range from the gravel extraction industry, which has concerns about the impact on its business if the river levels change, to the Canterbury District Health Board, which says the irrigations scheme may decrease the quality of drinking water in Christchurch.
The revised Central Plains scheme will cost $135 million to build and its backers say it would benefit Canterbury by boosting the region's agricultural ability.
