Hawke’s Bay Puts Stake in the Ground to Stop a Water Conservation Order on its Largest River

Hawke’s Bay’s fight to stop a controversial water conservation order (WCO) on two of it’s largest rivers is gaining momentum.

Hundreds of Hawke’s Bay businesses, residents, environmentalists, iwi and growers, have put the first stake in the ground, putting up billboards around the region to raise awareness and gain support in an attempt to stop the WCO going ahead on the Ngaruroro and Clive River.

Twyford Irrigators Group Spokesperson Jerf Van Beek says the Hawke’s Bay community needs to be educated about the devastating impact of the WCO.

“It will impact hugely on both the urban and rural communities. We believe as a region we can look after the river and we are working through a consultative TANK process to do this. The WCO, will keep us in the dark ages. We are saying Hawke’s Bay should be in charge of it’s own destiny.

“The WCO will be detrimental to our economy and hundreds of jobs will be lost. We think we can achieve the environmental balance with the processes we have in place.”

A Hawke’s Bay Rally is planned on the 19th September where hundreds of Hawke’s Bay residents are expected to hit the road, alongside tractors and plenty of heavy machinery. The rally will start at the Hawke’s Bay Showgrounds in Hastings and move through to Clive.

“We are also expecting crowds to come from Napier and Hastings with everyone congregating in Clive. Its important that Hawke’s Bay stands up for Hawke’s Bay because this WCO will impact our whole region. The rally gives everyone an opportunity to make a stand for our community and our environment,” says Mr Van Beek.

Despite an existing consultative process called TANK, which involves councils, growers, environmentalists, iwi and other groups, the NZ Fish and Game Council, along with 4 others lodged the WCO application with the Minister of the Environment.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Chairman Rex Graham says he is disappointed that outsiders have interfered with the TANK process, which has been underway for about four years.

“We have been working to achieve a balance between farming and the environment. But the WCO will decimate horticulture on the Heretaunga Plains. If the WCO goes ahead it will be the death of business in the region. Let’s not under estimate this - we will be fighting it to the end.”

All the water use linked to the Ngaruroro WCO must be consented including rural, urban and industrial takes. About two thirds of actual water use is urban and industrial use and one third is irrigation.

According to the WCO application, the consented volume must drop from the current 55,475 litres per second to 1581 litres per second, which is a 97 percent reduction in consented volume.

The application also proposes to increase the minimum flow at Fernhill bridge when restrictions on irrigation kick in from 2400 litres per second to 4200 litres per second, which would see a dramatic increase in irrigation ban days.

Mr Graham says under this plan there would be an average of 27 irrigation ban days and in a dry year there could be up to 90 irrigation ban days. That lack of confidence in water being available when needed will see growers deciding not to plant crops, and processors being unable to secure supply to keep factories running.

“This is not just about the growers and farmers. It is about everyone in Hawke’s Bay. We need to get everyone understanding that if the WCO goes ahead it will have devastating consequences.”

Submissions closed on the 24th of August.

The chairman has advised a Pre-hearing conference will be held on the 15th September.

ENDS

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