A Hawke's Bay farmer hopes the latest nitrogen limit ruling on the Ruataniwha dam will pave the way for it to proceed, he says.
The proposed Ruataniwha Dam would be built on this site in Hawke's Bay. Photo: RNZ / Peter Fowler
A Board of Inquiry on Friday upheld enforceable nitrogen limits for the water storage and irrigation scheme.
Federated Farmers Hawke's Bay president Will Foley said it appeared farmers now had a workable consent after years of stalling and delays.
Mr Foley said the nitrogen leaching ruling was definitely not the end of the road for the Ruataniwha dam as some environmental groups had claimed.
Irrigation New Zealand has described the ruling as reasonable but far from practical for farmers.