Media Release
4 March 2016

Waihi Dam Update

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council visited the Eastland Group’s Waihi Dam near Wairoa yesterday and are happy with the progress being made on repairs so far.

The Eastland Group dam has been discharging silt into the Waiau River since before Christmas after a sluice gate was damaged in a storm late last year. HBRC issued an abatement notice on Christmas Eve and January 6th requiring the gate to be closed but the damage to the gate is preventing it being fully closed.

Eastland began work on resolving the issue just over two weeks ago.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Group Manager Resource Management Iain Maxwell says from what staff saw yesterday the contractors are making good progress on repairing the damaged dam.

Meanwhile a thorough investigation continues into how the situation occurred and what effect it is having on the community and the environment. A decision on whether enforcement action against any party will be made once all the facts are known and the investigation is completed.

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