13 October 2006
Confirmation about the severity of water shortage on the Waimea Plains has prompted Tasman District Council to review its current approach to water management in the area. There is clearly insufficient water to meet current demand and Council plans to implement interim measures to conserve supply until an augmentation solution is agreed upon.
The extent of the water shortages was first highlighted during the summer of 2001-2002 when the effects of the drought conditions were worse than expected. Council Resource Scientist Joseph Thomas undertook a project to recalibrate the water model for the Waimea Basin. He discovered that water had been over-allocated in the area by 22 percent.
Just prior to the remodelling exercise, Part 5 of the Proposed Tasman Resource Management Plan (TRMP), which relates to water management, had been out for public submission. In the TRMP water management had been based on an assumption that drought conditions leading to water rationing would occur in one out of 10 years. Since that time, water rationing has been needed in four out of five years.
To explore options for water augmentation, the Waimea Water Augmentation Committee (WWAC) was formed in 2002. The committee members include Council staff and councillors, water users and representatives from the Department of Conservation, Fish and Game New Zealand, and Iwi.
WWAC conducted an extensive feasibility study on water storage options in the Waimea Basin. Two possible sites were identified in the Wairoa and Lee Catchments for a dam to augment flows into the Waimea basin.
Cr Richard Kempthorne said Council had to consider an interim management regime until the long-term augmentation solution could be agreed upon.
“Council will be consulting with water users and people with an interest in water management on the Waimea Plains over the next few months to ensure appropriate measures can be implemented,” he said.
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