Dry Weather Task Force Convenor Kim Drummond says “to conserve water where you can”

Despite all the water restrictions and complying with them in this desert climate our tomatoes have given us a bumper crop this year. We have been processing them for weeks into tomato chutney and cooking them with onion and herbs then freezing them to make meals with later. This is our eighth bag full - still more to come.

Tasman's Dry Weather Task Force Update 

Thursday 7 March, 2024

Tasman's Dry Weather Task Force has updated its water restrictions for consent holders across the district. 

Key to this week’s decision making is the release of water from the Waimea Community Dam, which has enabled previous restrictions on Waimea Affiliated and Unaffiliated users to be lifted. 

Some welcome rainfall over the weekend and into the early part of this week has been beneficial to the upper part of the Golden Bay catchments and some western tributaries of the Motueka Catchment. 

However, other parts of the Tasman District remain subject to higher-level water restrictions due to the ongoing dry conditions.   

Therefore, the following water zone restrictions are in place from Monday March 11; 

• Tākaka – Water Management Area – FMU – Remains at Stage 1  
• Moutere/Dove/Powley Creek – Cease takes remains  
• Moutere Eastern Groundwater – Stage 4 remains  
• Moutere Western Groundwater – Remains at Stage 2  
• Baton/Wangapeka – Rationing removed  
• Glenrae/Tadmor/Tapawera – Rationing removed  
• Stanley Brook – Stage 1 remains   
• Motupiko – Reduce rationing to Stage 1   
• Rainy – Stage 2 rationing remains 
• Waimea Unaffiliated – Rationing removed  
• Waimea Affiliated – Rationing removed  
• Wai-iti zones – Stage 1 remains 

 
Dry Weather Task Force Convenor Kim Drummond has reinforced his previous message to water users.   
 
He says to conserve where they can and to not to have the ‘use it or lose it’ approach to water use.  

“ The Council will continue to monitor water use with consent holders' support to ensure the greatest number of users can manage their needs. 

“While we have had some light relief from the rain, and the Waimea situation has been rectified by the dam releasing water, we still have to be careful not to extract more that the water systems can sustainably supply.  

“The position will be reviewed at the next meeting of the Dry Weather Taskforce on 12 March 2024.  This will provide an important opportunity to reassess the level of restrictions required. 

"In the meantime, it is important that consent holders are familiar with their Resource Consent conditions.” 

Watering of lawns or decorative gardens is not permitted for any water user situated in water management zones where rationing is in effect. 

 Please note, these restrictions do not apply to users of Council-managed reticulated water supplies, which are subject to alternative and different restrictions.      

For more information, go to https://www.tasman.govt.nz/my-property/water/water-supply/current-water-restrictions/

Tasman District Council.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

UPDATE POLICE ADVISE ROAD IS NOW OPEN 3:40PM - NZTA/Waka Kotahi Traffic Bulletin:— Car Crash on Takaka Hill Wed 6 March -

UPDATE: State Highway 60 Tākaka Hill closed following serious crash 

UPDATE 3:40pm 

Police advise that the road is now open.

Takaka Highway has now reopened following a two vehicle crash that resulted in two people receiving minor and moderate injuries. 

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

Police would like to thank members of the public for their patience while the road was closed.

2:05 pm:

State Highway 60 Tākaka Hill is now open to traffic under stop/go traffic controls.

Drivers can expect delays while travelling the route. They should take extra care when travelling through the crash site.

 

NZTA/Waka Kotahi  wants to thank drivers for their patience and co-operation while contractors and emergency services continue their work.

 

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1:35 pm:

Drivers travelling between Motueka and Tākaka must delay their travel as emergency services attend a serious car crash on the Tākaka Hill.

 

The incident was reported just after midday and occurred near Bates and Canaan Roads.

Police have confirmed two vehicles were involved, with one person in a critical condition and one person  in a serious condition. The Police Serious Crash Unit has also been advised.

 

SH60 Tākaka Hill is currently closed and will remain so until the crash site is clear, and a Police scene examination is carried out. This is expected to take several hours.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

Waimea Community Dam

 

PHOTO: The first dispersing fixed cone valve releasing water from Te Kurawai o Pūhanga, the reservoir behind the Waimea Community Dam. 

WAIMEA COMMUNITY DAM STARTS OPERATIONS

Waimea Water

MEDIA RELEASE

Sunday 3 March 2024

Waimea Water Ltd (WWL) has commenced releasing water from the reservoir to support relief from the worsening drought as the dry and warm summer conditions continue.

On Saturday 2 March 2024, water from the reservoir was released through the smaller of three permanent dispersing valves constructed to release water from the reservoir in dry periods.

Te Kurawai o Pūhanga, the reservoir behind the Waimea Community Dam, reached its full capacity and the spillway commenced flowing on Sunday 21 January 2024. However, over recent weeks, and as the work to transition to the permanent pipes was completed, the lack of rainfall saw the water flowing into the reservoir and out over the spillway reduce significantly.

 

WWL CEO Mike Scott said that he expects the two larger dispersing valves will be operational within the next two weeks, but in the meantime, the completed small valve has been made operational ahead of the other two.

 

“The smaller fixed cone valve has increased flow into the Lee River at a time when it is severely needed,” Scott said. “We are pleased to be able to lift the river flow on Saturday and I thank our commissioning engineers, the contractors and wider team for getting this valve operational to release water.” 

 

Scott advised that release from the reservoir will be curtailed for periods over the next few days as some works are completed, but with the intention of running the valve at close to capacity outside of work needs and hours. 

 

“Once the other two dispersing valves are operational and their performance verified, the dam will be fully commissioned. Commissioning is scheduled for later in March,” he said.

 

Waimea Irrigators Ltd Chairperson Murray King said irrigators had been looking forward to this day all summer.

 

“It is a great feeling to know that Waimea Water can now control the release of water from the reservoir, when it is needed, and it is certainly needed now. The current dry situation and water restrictions show how much the community needs the dam,” King said.  

 

Tasman Mayor Tim King said it is ‘bloody great’ to see the water flowing from the dam.

“It has been a quarter of a century in the making, but this weekend we have an operational dam to supply the region with much needed water supply for the next 100 years,” King said. “We will be keeping an eye on river levels over the next few days, and are certainly hoping this release will stave off any further water restrictions.”

EXPLANATION FROM WAIMEA WATER LTD OF HOW THE DAM WORKS:

Water released from the Waimea Community Dam complements the natural system by supplementing low river flows to assist recharge of the Waimea aquifers. Assisted recharge of the aquifers maintain water levels for extraction and reduce the risk of saltwater intrusion from the coast. Maintaining higher river flows also improves river health. 

The flow from the dam will support both horticulture and the domestic water wells near Appleby that supply water to the combined Richmond / Nelson water network. Māpua, Ruby Bay, Brightwater and Wakefield also use bores in the Waimea Plains, benefitting from the recharged aquifers. 

The size of the reservoir mitigates the impact of a drought greater than a 1:50 year event.

WAIMEA WATER LTD.

PIGEON POST NEWS, RICHMOND.

Richmond 'Streets for People' projects continue

William Street centre of photo and Hill Street crossing the photo at the bottom. Photo credit Tasman District Council.

Hill Street

Cycleway upgrade

5 March 2024

Work is about to begin on a new project in Hill Street Tasman District Council announces.

Council is about to launch into one of the final phases of the Richmond Streets for People projects by creating a safer cycling and walking connection between Champion Road and Queen Street along Hill Street.

This is a multi-faceted project incorporating separated cycle lanes, a section of shared footpath and a new low speed 30 kilometre an hour zone where vehicles and cyclists share the roadway.

Work is scheduled to begin in mid-March.

Most of the work only requires lane remarking so we're not anticipating widespread disruptions for road users the Council advised.

The Council believes the project dovetails nicely into the recently completed project to improve cycling and walking facilities in the adjacent William Street neighbourhood.

Tasman District Council.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

WATER WATER

WAIMEA COMMUNITY DAM.  PHOTO WAIMEA WATER LTD. The first photo of water being released from the Waimea Community Dam - Saturday & Sunday 2 & 3 March 2024.

 Majority of Tasman urban water restrictions lifted 

4 March 2024

The low-level release of augmented water at the Waimea Community Dam over the weekend has enabled water restrictions for the majority of users of Council-managed reticulated water supplies to be lifted with immediate effect. 

This decision applies to residents in Richmond, Hope, Māpua/ Ruby Bay, Brightwater, Redwood 1 and 2 as well as Nelson residents living adjacent to Champion Road, Wakatū Industrial Estate, and parts of Saxton Road West, where water is supplied from the Richmond Water Supply Scheme. 

However those on Wakefield and Eighty-Eight Valley supplies will remain at Phase A – to help maintain water levels in the Kainui Dam at Wai-Iti - while users in Dovedale will remain at Phase D.  

"This summer has required some flexibility in terms of our water use as we navigate the need to keep within our consented takes and the efforts of water users,” Group manager, Community Infrastructure Richard Kirby said. 
 
"At times, this has meant some significant restrictions were implemented – however, we are grateful for everyone’s efforts to conserve water as much as possible. 

 “The likelihood of meaningful rain in the coming weeks remains uncertain – however, the recent release of water and the imminent commissioning of the Waimea Dam means urban and commercial water users can be reassured of our ability to augment supplies as necessary.” 

On Saturday 2 March, Waimea Water Ltd (WWL) commenced its release of water from the Dam’s reservoir to alleviate the effects of continuing dry and warm summer conditions.  

Water from the reservoir was released through the smaller of three permanent dispersing valves constructed to release water from the reservoir in dry periods.  

WWL expects the two larger dispersing valves will be operational within the next two weeks.  

Once the other two dispersing valves are operational and their performance verified, the dam will be fully commissioned. Commissioning is scheduled for later in March. 

The augmented flow from the dam will support both horticulture and the domestic water wells near Appleby that supply water to the combined Richmond / Nelson water network.  

Māpua, Ruby Bay, Brightwater and Wakefield also use bores in the Waimea Plains, benefitting from the recharged aquifers.    

Information around water tips can be found at www.tasman.govt.nz/my-property/water/water-saving-tips  
 
More information around water restrictions can be found at Current restrictions - reticulated | Tasman District Council

Tasman District Council, Communications.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

Dam water release enables immediate lifting of water restrictions for Waimea consent holders

RESERVOIR FULL JANUARY 2024. PHOTO CREDIT WAIMEA WATER LTD.

Dam release allows for immediate lifting of water restrictions for Waimea consent holders 

4 March, 2024

The augmented release of water from the Waimea Community Dam over the weekend has enabled water restrictions to be lifted with immediate effect for consented users in the Waimea affiliated and unaffiliated management zones.  

Thanks to the increased flow afforded by the dam release, consented water users within one of the following zones are now entitled to 100% of their consented maximum water take limit under the existing pre-dam conditions. 

• Waimea Delta 
• Golden Hills 
•  Hope and Eastern Hills 
•  Lower Confined Aquifer 
•  Waimea Reservoir 
•  Upper Confined Aquifer 
• Waimea Upper Catchments 
• Waimea West 

On Saturday 2 March, Waimea Water Ltd (WWL) commenced its release of water from the Dam’s reservoir to alleviate the effects of continuing dry and warm summer conditions.  

A lack of rainfall over recent weeks has seen the amount of water flowing into the reservoir and out over the spillway reduce significantly. 

Water from the reservoir was released through the smaller of three permanent dispersing valves constructed to release water from the reservoir at variable flow rates.  

WWL expects the two larger dispersing valves will be fitted within the next two weeks.  

Dry Weather Task Force (DWTF) convenor Kim Drummond said the increased flow of water into the Lee River was an important step in realising the dam’s value to the district in securing water for the future. 

“This project has been in the works for more than 20 years and to now be almost at the point of completion so that it can provide significant long term benefits to the community is something to be celebrated.”   

“While we have lifted these restrictions now, the Council will continue to monitor water levels closely.” 

“In the meantime, it is important that consent holders are familiar with their Resource Consent conditions.” 

Despite some welcome rainfall on Monday and more forecast for Tuesday, other parts of the Tasman District remain subject to water restrictions as a result of the dry weather conditions that persist.  

Further measures required for these areas, which includes Moutere Eastern and Western Groundwater, Aorere and Upper Motueka Catchments, will be considered by the DWTF team in the coming days. 

The release of water by the dam will also benefit users of Council-managed reticulated water supplies, which have been subject to alternative restrictions.      

For more information, go to Current restrictions - consented and private supplies | Tasman District Council

Tasman District Council.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.