Five-time America's Cup winner Sir Russell Coutts at the New Zealand golf open pro-am tournament at Millbrook Resort in 2017. An English aristocrat, worth more than $1 billion, is among the opponents of a high-profile water consent. The battle over a water-take consent involving yachting great Sir Russell Coutts enters a critical phase this week. It doesn’t comply with proposed plan change 7 (PPC7) to Otago’s regional water plan – but it doesn’t need to, because it was lodged in 2019, a year before the plan change took effect. “During construction of the extensive race system and ponds at the head of the Royal Burn catchment the Royal Burn creek was run dry, depriving families and farms downstream of any water for long periods of time.

Source: Stuff June 13, 2021 17:37 UTC