On 30 November 2018, Tasman District Council has confirmed the Waimea Community Dam will be built.
Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne said: “This project will deliver a secure source of water for our community for the next 100 years. It will greatly improve the health of the Waimea River, which can’t sustain the demands we’re making of it at the moment. The benefits for our region are immense and will be felt by everyone who chooses to make Tasman their home for generations to come.”
Construction is due to begin in early 2019 and will be managed by the Council-Controlled Organisation set up to run the project
Following confidential negotiations TDC has now resumed planning for funding of the proposed Waimea Dam.
Meanwhile, a confidential report leading to the revised funding has been released by Council.
From the TDC News Feed:
The Tasman District Council has decided increased costs for the Waimea Community Dam are unaffordable for ratepayers, meaning the project in its current form will not proceed.
The Council today decided in principle not to fund 51% of a $23 million capital funding shortfall for the dam.
Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne said the decision effectively meant the project would not proceed, as public consultation cannot occur before the deadline of 15 December when the Government will withdraw its funding for the dam of over $55 million.
Click below to read more - including summer water restrictions will now come into effect.
Forwarded to us by a local resident:
Website stuff.co.nz is hosting this article about a local chartered accountant's concern with regards to total anticipated cost of the Waimea Dam, and how this financial burden would be distributed.
Click here to read the article: Waimea dam may cost $400m to pay back says accountant
Council is searching for a way to close the $26 million funding gap for the Waimea Dam by December.
Read the words by TDC CEO Janine Dowding and Mayor Richard Kempthorne outlining why the case for the dam is still compelling, and what happens if the dam does not proceed.
Click here for the TDC News Item