Applications to use water from the Hurunui River in North Canterbury have been put on hold until wider water management issues in the province can be resolved.

Environment Minister Nick Smith has placed a fourteen month moratorium on applications at the request of the commissioners he appointed to run the Canterbury Regional Council.

A 42,000 hectare irrigation scheme is proposed for the river, but Dr Smith says assessing such a project without a coherent water plan would be a procedural nightmare.

“I think it’s a real vote of confidence on all the steps the Government has taken, that all of the key groups, whether they are environmental, irrigation, farmers or the like, have supported this moratorium, noting it is only possible since we passed that Environment Canterbury Act.

"The truth is that water management in Canterbury has been, for more than a decade, piecemeal and poorly planned, and most people can see that a more disciplined and orderly approach needs to be taken around irrigation development in Canterbury."

Water management was a key factor in the Government sacking the old Environment Canterbury councillors, but Dr Smith says the almost universal support for his decision shows a solution can be found.

I’m optimistic that this breathing space is going to get the community working together - of course these issues can be incredibly divisive and difficult in rural communities, here’s an opportunity to show that we can make this work in the Hurunui.”

The Hurunui Water Project is backing a scheme to dam the south branch of the river.

Chairman Mike Hodgen says the moratorium will ensure the process is done properly.

“It’s been a long struggle to find the right project. The people that pay the bills for us don’t want to destroy the river or anything - we live here.

"The local farmers have paid a fair chunk of the expenses and we’ve spent a lot of money – they use the river, they go fishing and boating – they live here.

The opposition groups – I very rarely see them. I haven’t seen Brendon Burns here for a long time.”

But Labour Party water spokesman Brendon Burns says the commissioners now have their work cut out, as the Hurunui Water Project can’t go ahead in its current state.

“They have to decide two things, one is, they’ve got a new irrigation scheme proposed, which would dam the south branch of the Hurunui river and create 42,000 new hectares of irrigation, on top of the already 10,000 hectares.

"Meantime, they’ve got a bid for a water conservation order which includes the south branch of the Hurunui, the two things are mutually exclusive if you like.

"My pick is that the Hurunui Water Project, if it does succeed will be a much scaled down version of what is proposed because already the water at the bottom end of the Hurunui is undrinkable.”