Irrigation Water Consent Restrictions

Council Environment Committee Chairman, Graeme Taylor says that falling river levels and a dry weather forecast mean that it is likely a number of irrigation water consents will have to be shut off over the next week. Consent holders in the Rai River have had to shut off earlier this week and may be followed in a few days by several other rivers. The Waihopai River is just above the Class B threshold and is likely to be shut off by the end of the week and consent holders in the Wairau and Lower Pelorus Rivers will probably be close behind.

At this stage the MetService forecast gives no indication of rain in the next 14 days, so there is a high probability of these shutoffs happening.

A Waihopai Class B shut off would affect about 20 consent holders. There are about 80 consent holders involved in the Wairau B Class including the Council operated Southern Valleys’ Irrigation scheme, which services about 250 properties. Preparations are being made to shut down the Gibsons Creek intake once the trigger level is reached. The Pelorus River has 11 active consents.

In the longer term shutoffs may extend to the Waihopai Class A consents and the Awatere, which is enjoying one of its better seasons, but may still face shutoffs if the current dry spell continues.

Council reminds all water consent holders that they need to be aware of their shut off thresholds and check flows on the Council website to ensure that they comply with their consent conditions. Council staff are also intending to contact as many consent holders as possible to remind them of their responsibilities.

ALAN JOHNSON
MANAGER ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & MONITORING