Commissioners considering a proposal to build a large irrigation scheme in Canterbury have indicated that its proponents may have to reduce their water use below what they currently suggest.
The Central Plains Water Company is seeking consents to take water from the Rakaia and Waimakariri Rivers to irrigate up to 60,000 hectares of farm land between the rivers.
It's already agreed to scale back the project so it no longer includes a large storage reservoir that was part of the original proposal.
That was after the commissioners indicated they would not approve a scheme that included a dam.
The company has also offered to reduce the water take it would seek in an amended scheme.
Preliminary view outlined
But in a new minute outlining their current thinking, the comissioners have indicated it may have to go even further.
They agree that more water can be sustainably taken from the Waimakariri River.
But the comissioners say that would need to be on more restrictive terms than were originally proposed and quite likely also less than what Central Plains currently envisages.
However, the commissioners emphasise that that's a preliminary view and that the issues they're dealing with are complex.
They say they won't reach any final conclusions until an amended proposal by the company and submissions associated with that, are heard.
The hearing resumes in October.