22 Jul 2010

Hurunui water moratorium confirmed

4:32 pm on 22 July 2010

Canterbury Regional Council Commissioners have voted to impose a moratorium on taking water from the Hurunui River, the region's fourth biggest.

The moratorium is the first use of special powers since the Government dimissed regional council members this year.

On Monday, the commission wrote to Environment Minister Nick Smith asking for the power to impose a moratorium for 14 months.

It will allow a plan to be developed for the Hurunui River, which is facing applications for a 42,000-hectare irrigation scheme and a water conservation order.