Although the Tasman District Council voted against the Waimea Dam Project on Tuesday, August 28, they have been asked to consider a revised funding proposal from supporters of the scheme that could allow the project to continue.
Eight councillors voted against the project with six supporting it, meaning the project in its current form will not proceed.
Nelson MP Nick Smith says he is not giving up on the dam project and has urged councillors opposing the project to be prepared to reconsider with a bit more external help.
“We are tantalising close to a solution to one of the region’s most long-standing and difficult problems. The project has full resource consents and approval of the Environment Court, a bill with parliamentary support to solve the problem of access to the land and financial commitments of over $60m from government, landowners and the neighbouring Nelson City Council. It would be a tragedy to lose the 18 years of work and $8m of investigation and design costs because of being shy of just one or two councillors’ votes,” says Nick.
The council will meet at 1.15pm on Thursday, September 6, to discuss the revised funding proposal, which would lower the impact on ratepayers of the project’s cost escalation.
The inclusion of this topic on Thursday’s meeting agenda complies with the council’s standing order requirements for reconsidering decisions. This will give the council the opportunity to consider new information and review the decision of August 28.