Media Release

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday 14 March

MPI supporting Managed Aquifer Recharge Trial

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has welcomed three new investments totalling $1.6 million into irrigation projects coming from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Irrigation Acceleration Fund (IAF).

The three irrigation projects receiving funding are in the Wairarapa ($804,000), Hawke’s Bay ($575,000), and Gisborne ($250,000).

Mr Guy said in a press release on Friday 11 March, providing a reliable water supply for farmers and growers has major potential to boost growth, creating jobs and exports in these regions.

“As a Government we are strong supporters of irrigation and water storage, and have signalled up to $400 million in total towards irrigation over time.”

Mayor Meng Foon says the funding from MPI, matched by the Eastland Community Trust, has supported the research in developing a trial Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) in the declining Makauri Aquifer.

“The aquifer supplies nearly a third of all irrigation water on the Poverty Bay Flats and is a critical part of our economy – the value of irrigation water from the aquifer is estimated at over $6.6 million a year.

“It’s also the source of springs and wetlands and these values are also under threat.

“A MAR injection is one of the tools being considered to recharge water levels in the aquifer.”

Over the past 12 months Council has worked with international experts in hydrogeology and engineering from Golder Associates, conducting monitoring and developing best-practice methodology for the trial.

The trial will test an injection of surplus water from another source into the aquifer through a bore.

“The Makauri Aquifer is semi confined. This means it doesn't ‘leak’ so much into the sea or into other aquifers,” says Mayor Foon.

“The trial will tell us if it’s possible to increase the amount of water in the aquifer with minimal impact on the water quality and environment.

“As long as the water quality isn’t compromised, it may be able to be used to store water without any evaporation or leakage losses.”

Martyn Dunne, Director General of the Ministry for Primary Industries sees the project as a valuable investment for the Poverty Bay Flats community.

“We are pleased to commit $250,000 to this project, as having reliable water availability is a major contributor to economic gains for the agriculture and horticulture industries,” says Mr Dunne.

“Water availability is a major factor in investment confidence for agriculture and horticulture.”

Under the proposed Gisborne Regional Freshwater Plan, water restrictions could be introduced on bore takes from the Makauri Aquifer by 2020.

Mayor Foon says if irrigation water was restricted there would be significant economic impacts to the regions producers.

“Staff are currently investigating a source for the injection water. We’re also carefully considering environmental and cultural impacts on the waterways, before proceeding to the next step,” says Mayor Foon.

MAR Update

Council’s geochemical and hydrological consultants for the project, Golder Associates, have been investigating the Waipaoa River as a potential source for the injection water for the proposed trial.

An update of the findings will be presented to the Environmental and Regulatory committee on Wednesday 16 March.

Water quality testing and geochemical work indicate the river water, once passed through the Kaiaponi Farms infiltration chamber and filtration system is very suitable for the trial.

“Testing so far has shown that the river water quality is very good, we also have the option of treating the water further,” says project manager Mark Joblin.

The MAR trial will test an injection of surplus water from another source into the aquifer through a bore.

The trial is being proposed to investigate one of the solutions to manage declining water levels in the Makauri Aquifer.

The initial investigation of the source water for the trial focused on using surplus water from the Waingake treatment plant – current El Nino weather and forecasts show there may not be surplus water available.

Consultation with iwi and stakeholders during the initial investigation had raised concerns around chemical reaction between underground water chlorinated water.

Though experts confirm a carcinogenic reaction was highly unlikely the Waipaoa water if treated with Chlorine would have far less levels of Chlorine, and there were still steps Council can take to remove residual chlorine if the consents required.

The Waipaoa is also the original source of water in the aquifer that would retain the cultural value for both waterways.

Once the technical work is complete the data will form part of the application for resource consents for the trial.

“We’ll be discussing the findings and recommendations from Golders research with the stakeholder advisory group, iwi representatives and councillors before lodging the application,” says Mr Joblin.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has been delegated authority to process the resource consent independently.

The technical reports consents and will be notified for the public to have their say before a decision is made to go ahead.

ENDS

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