UPDATES 27 February 1997 // 1st October 1997
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Personnel are: Phil Pryke, Chairman. Paul Anthony (formerly from the UK), Chief Executive. Bruce Thompson, Communications Manager (ex ECNZ). |
There was a change in Government in November 1996, when a coalition was formed
between New Zealand First and the National Party. The new minister in charge of the SOE,
Contact Energy Ltd, is Lockwood-Smith. Select Committees have yet to be formed and the
Beaumont petition has yet to be heard. Friends of Beaumont intends to lobby Dr Lockwood-Smith
to try to get him to order the sale of the land held by Contact Energy. The argument to be put
forward is that Contact's core business is electricity generation, not as Landlords, owning land
it does not need for electricity generation.
The appeals to the Enviroment Court over land use aspects of the Clutha District Draft Plan
had not been withdrawn by either Contact Energy Ltd or the previous owner of the Clutha schemes,
ECNZ. The Clutha District Council had told the court judge that Contact has 'taken over' from
ECNZ and they were in the process of reaching agreement with Contact over the wording in the District Plan that
presently preserves high class soils in the area and which would force a potential hydro developer to
request a change to the District Plan so that it could be zoned 'industrial', thus allowing them to proceed
with resource consent applications.
The 'agreement' would need the approval of all of the other submittors to this aspect of the Plan
and if any disagreed, the matter would automatically go to a hearing of the Environment Court.
Friends of Beaumont Inc did not recognise the legal status claimed by Contact Energy Limited in their negotiations for an agreement
with the Clutha District Council as it was not an original submittor and in fact did not even exist at the time of the
Clutha District Draft Plan hearing (see Ist October update).
The petition of Graeme Collins and 26,000 other, calling for a halt to hydro dams on the Lower Clutha, may be heard this year by the Select Committee. Fot those who would like to register an interest in making submissions, please send an email to: Friends of Beaumont Inc. with the message "Please Register". We will advise you when submissions are being requested along with dates and times of the hearings, etc.
UPDATE - 27 February 1997.
In July 1996, a group called GUARDIANS OF THE CLUTHA was formed, with responsibilities that include general stewardship and
monitoring of the whole of the Clutha River systems. Chaired by Robin O'Brien of Alexandra, membership includes many from Friends of Beaumont Inc.,
and others in the area. Monitoring of siltings and flooding due to the hydro dams (Clyde and Roxburgh) will be undertaken and members
will be working with Contact in a promised group that will compile data about silting and flooding prior to the new consent hearings for water
use, for the Roxburgh Dam in 2000.
1 October 1997: Update
Clutha District Plan: Friends of Beaumont's objections to Contact Energy's Appeals against aspects of the Plan have been resolved - only one point having been conceded. It was decided not to contest Contact's juridisdiction in the matter (ECNZ launched the Appeals and Contact 'took over') because of the possibility of legal costs being awarded against FOB. There is no legal aid srructure that allows environmental organisations to be immune from costs or pay for legal advice. FOB acknowledges the help and assistance given freely by Jefferies and Raizis, Barristers and Solicitors, Wellington, to our cause.
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