TDC Hydrologist Joseph Thomas recently made a presentation on water issues in the 200 km² Moutere Catchment at a recent meeting of the Mapua and District Community Association. Here is a summary of the scientific and technical aspects touched upon:
The Moutere is typically a dry catchment with 3 zones: Eastern, Western and Southern, which is
where Mapua sits. The entire catchment is full of Moutere Gravels of varying depths down to the granite base at about 200 m.
There are up to three levels of water which is very old and is recharged very slowly from the hills to the South. Council has tight rules for drilling bores but these were created originally for irrigation purposes (in dry seasons). The yield from these bores is low, typically around 5 cubic meters/hour.
Use has changed since to include household use with 365 day draw-down. Private bores are allowed without permit, are typically around 80 m deep and allow 5000 l/day. Council is worried that year-round draw-down could deplete the aquifer and allow salt water intrusion.
Recently, some renewed activity has arisen around the pathway idea, and the MHRA committee is now trying to build a new, more public support case for the project.
We are chatting again to some landowners and are in contact with our Councillors and Council departments to find out more about what can be done. We are in the process of gathering expressions of support for the idea of having a safe walk- and cycle track from local businesses and organisations, and we are planning to collect more feedback from the wider community.
Please note that we are not advocating any particular route for the pathway at this moment. We are investigating several route options - all of which have their difficulties, advantages and disadvantages. We expect the final route to be chosen based input from landowners and Council, feedback from the community, and simple feasibility.
Look at the walkway page for more.
Tasman District Council is proposing some changes to the Public Water Supply Bylaw in this update on the previous bylaw from 2009 which is now expiring.
While no effective change from provisions in the expiring bylaw, two areas where Council intend to apply and enforce bylaw requirements are a "minimum storage for customers connected to a restricted flow supply", and for customers to "comply with any water restrictions imposed because of drought, emergency, or other reason".
This will affect all users on schemes with restrictors such as the Dovedale Water Scheme.
Follow this link to read the full bylaw draft.
Submissions close at 4.00pm Wednesday 10 August 2016.
As some residents might have noticed, Council is currently creating riparian plantings along the bank of the Moutere River north of Kelling Road.
Here is what TDC Rivers & Coastal Engineer Giles Griffith has to say:
"The Kelling Road site is a great opportunity, it’s not often there is such a large, suitable site available. The plans are to revegetate much of the lower terrace beside the stream in this area, and control weeds over the next three years or so until the plants are away."
He points out there are also a number of other riparian plantings in the Moutere but these are less visible.
Giles is always on the lookout for good sites so if you or somebody you know have any suggestions for other sites in our area he would be happy to look at them.
The Moutere Hills Residents Association is always happy to collect and forward feedback & suggestions.
There was a good turn-out at the Moutere Inn for MHRA's public meeting on 5 April.
TDC representatives from Mayor and CEO to Planning Managers and Ward Councillors were there to present details of the Annual Plan 2016/17 and the new engagement process that is replacing formal consultation for this year.
We would like to say thank you to all who attended the meeting.
The minutes for the meeting can be found here.