DOC asks for Mokihinui appeal to be put on hold

The Department of Conservation has applied to the Environment Court to put its appeal against the Mokihinui Hydro Proposal on hold.

Meridian has recently informed DOC that it wishes to withdraw all applications it had previously filed with the department for both concessions and a land exchange proposal in relation to its Mokihinui Hydro project.

DOC says it has made its views on the environmental impact of the proposed scheme clear through the resource consent hearings and it still opposes the granting of resource consents.

However given the formal withdrawal of Meridian’s applications for both concessions and a land exchange in relation to the Mokihinui proposal, DOC does not wish to unnecessarily tie up court time and is seeking the appeal be put on hold.