A Canterbury farmer is deciding whether to appeal against a regional council decision to deny his application to take water from the Cannington Basin, inland from Timaru.
Bruce Eggleton said if he is unable to take water he will have to give up on his farm which he has spent $8 million converting to a dairy operation.
The regional council said a number of submitters raised concerns during the application process that allowing Mr Eggleton to take water from the basin would reduce the yields from existing bores or springs on nearby properties and further downstream.
It said the commissioners hearing the application found its effects would be more than minor on the groundwater of the Cannington Basin and the surface flows in the Pareora River.
