Interim Limit Options for Heretaunga Groundwater
The possibility of setting limits on new application for water take resource consents from the Heretaunga Aquifer are to
be further explored by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. Regional Councillors have also asked staff to cost a programme for
setting a deep bore to gather information on the deeper part of the aquifer.
Councillors voted at the Wednesday Regional Council meeting to instruct staff to mark all applications for new water
consents or variations of water consents on the Heretaunga Plains as ‘Class B’ water. This is subject to legal advice
supporting this approach.
This would be a temporary category until such time as the TANK planning process recommends the volume of extra water
that is available and any hierarchy of priorities for water use. TANK is the collective term for the Tutaekuri, Ahuriri,
Ngaruroro and Karamū surface water and groundwater catchments on the Heretaunga Plains, being examined as part of the
planning process.
Some Councillors are concerned that there is an impression in the community that the aquifer is not being managed
sustainably. They would like to develop an understanding of what the theoretical limits for groundwater pumping could
be. HBRC staff have confirmed that aquifer levels have remained largely unchanged over the last 150 years, although, in
the unconfined areas of the aquifer, groundwater pumping affects both groundwater levels and stream flows in a dry
summer.
Staff have reported to Councillors that any ‘limit’ or moratorium on water takes could not be adopted without being
subject to the correct processes under the Resource Management Act, which would include consultation with a wide range
of organisations and the community. If such an approach was to be used, it would have to apply to all new water takes,
no matter what use the water was intended for.
Under the proposed ‘Class B’ approach, if insufficient water is found to be available after further investigation
through TANK, consent holders takes would cease under a ‘last on, first off’ approach. Some Councillors expressed
concern that this could limit development and economic expansion particularly in the pip fruit industry.
Council also voted to commence discussions with central Government about introducing legislation to enable royalties to
be charged for water exported and sold offshore for bottling.
In addition, staff have been requested to report on the potential of installing additional deep bores to gather
information to help establish the full extent and capacity of the aquifer and its sub-aquifers, and their relationships
to surface water. Potential costs of - and impacts on - the already-approved science investigation programmes are to be
provided. Staff noted that a computer model is already being constructed by HBRC hydrology staff to evaluate the
potential for sea water intrusion in coastal areas of the aquifer.
ENDS