What’s happening on the water front … didn’t we have heaps of water issues steaming away?

With the local election and sagging economy dominating attention these days, our region’s various water-related exploits seem to have gone off the burner, or at least fallen under the radar.

Here’s a brief update on what’s buzzin.

Local Water Done Well: Three councils – CHBDC, HDC, NCC – have linked arms and submitted their plan for a new regional water agency to manage drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services/assets – it’s the HB Water Services Council Controlled Organisation. Here’s our full report.

Heretaunga Water Storage Project: Full feasibility investigation underway. HBRC plans to hand-off the project to a community entity now in formation – the Whanawhana Water Storage Project Alternative Delivery Vehicle (ADV). The design and ‘paperwork’ for ADV has been completed. Word is that HDC and NCC have named their reps on its governance board, as has Heretaunga Sustainable Water (HSW), the growers group. However, as is often the case, in-fighting amongst Māori leaders has delayed appointment of representatives from that community.

Heretaunga Sustainable Water (HSW): The growers/irrigators united under this banner are focused on promoting acceptance of a ‘global consent’ framework that would encompass (ideally) most individual water extraction consents across the Heretaunga aquifer. Such an existing group consent for participating Twyford irrigators has proven effective in managing water allocations so as to avoid bans on water takes. Additionally, as noted above, HSW has appointed its reps – Greig Taylor and Xan Harding – to the ADV governance group mentioned above. That said, word is that not all Heretaunga growers see a need for a community scale storage dam … which they would need to pay for. Hence …

Also, HSW is supporting research from Lincoln Agritech looking into aquifer recharge for the Ngaruroro River. This research, supported by HBRC, investigates whether different riverbed management (involving changes to streambed narrowing and gravel extraction) might augment natural recharge from the river. 

Ruataniwha Dam 2 (RD2): Enough funding has been secured Tukituki Water Security Project (TWSP) for a new feasibility and business case to be developed. Meantime, the application by Water Holdings Hawke’s Bay (WHHB) to the Regional Council to have the original Dam 1 water consents extended (so they can be passed on to TWSP) is proceeding in slow motion. The consents expired in June. HBRC awaits more information from WHHB and will eventually hand the matter to an independent hearings commissioner for resolution. Meantime, RD2 still sits on the Government’s fast track list.

HB Community Water Trust: This entity was established by three entities, Central Hawke’s Bay District Council, Tamatea Pōkai Whenua Trust and Water Holdings Hawke’s Bay, to address water security in Tamatea Central Hawke’s Bay.  While nominally to look at all water security options for CHB, it’s effectively the holding company intended to advance RD2. It now kas a full Board consisting of grower Hugh Ritchie, Māori appointees Jenny Nelson-Smith and Lewis Aperahama, and independent  chair Maria Robertson. A CHB spokesperson says Robertson, a senior official in Wellington, has been has been connected with the district for over 15 years, is a CHBDC ratepayer and actively involved in the Pourerere community throughout that time.

HBRC Water Security ‘Action Plan’: This initiative is to examine a full suite of water ‘interventions’ – particularly with respect to reducing water demand in the region. BayBuzz has advocated strongly that the Regional Council has neglected serious examination of water savings opportunities, as reported here. Logic would suggest that before committing to spending hundreds of millions, maybe a billion plus, on dams, we might look in depth at estimating and costing the possibilities for water savings, which by their nature would be less threatening – in fact, advantageous – to the environment.

TANK Plan Change 9: This is HBRC’s plan for managing water allocation and quality across the Heretaunga Plains. It sits forelornly before the Environment Court with all parties across the community and user spectrum appealing one or another of its elements. Further evidence deadline are pending in October and then February 2026. No decision expected before late 2026.

So, is your glass half empty, or half full? Stay tuned.