The Dovedale Rural Water Committee are holding their Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 11 November, 7pm at the Moutere Hills Community Centre.
At this meeting the Committee and Tasman District Council will share some important updates on future operation of the Dovedale Rural Water supply, including Three Waters Reform Programme funding and upgrade plans, and treatment options outlined in the draft Water Services Bill.
In addition to this we will have a financial update and an overview of supply operations for the past year.
Waimea Water Ltd has announced on 21 February that the projected cost for the dam will rise from $104 million dollars to $129 million dollars, due to unforeseen issues with the suitability of rock available in the construction area.
Mayor Tim King responded that the dam remains essential for the region and that Council is committed to pay for cost increases even if these exceed $3 million "but that does not automatically mean it’s funded entirely through rates" and new funding sources may have to be sought.
Waimea Irrigators Ltd responded "The importance of this project to the region has not changed, and it is still the best solution for the region’s long-term water supply” and We will work with our project partners in any way we can to help develop a strategy to raise the additional funds."
Follow this link to the full news releases.
Tasman District Council has adopted an amendment to the Public Water Supply Bylaw which is aimed to "protect and manage the community’s access to safe, secure water."
TDC notes: "The bylaw includes a water restrictions protocol for how we will manage water use during a drought or an emergency."
A copy of the bylaw can be downloaded here. From page 24 onward you will find breakdowns of the phases in the Water Restriction Protocol.
It makes for a good read in case we get another drought.
TDC will hold a public meeting for the Dovedale Rural Water Scheme on Thursday 3 October 2019 at the Moutere Hills Community Centre from 7pm.
Some topics that will be discussed include:
All users connected to this water scheme are invited and encouraged to attend.
In view of the drought event experienced this year, TDC is seeking public feedback on the handling of water restrictions during that time. Restrictions are based on the Water Supply Bylaw which is currently in draft form, and due to be adopted.
The draft Public Water Supply Bylaw affects the management of the Council’s reticulated water supplies across the entire District. It does not cover private wells/bores, or resource consents to take water for horticulture or other productive uses, which are managed through rules in the Tasman Resource Management Plan.
“The restrictions we imposed on urban households and businesses in the Waimea area were much stricter than people will have experienced in the past. They worked – people connected to the Council water supply in that area cut their usage by 28% during the height of the drought. That is a massive effort and was crucial to sustaining our water supplies through that period.
“We want to know if the community agrees with the approach that was taken. It was based on the proposals within this bylaw and, if we adopt it, we will take a very similar approach in future when there is a threat to our water supplies.”
Council Feedback Open From 5 June