Tasman's Dry Weather Task Force has updated its water restrictions for consent holders across the district.
The following water direction notices will apply from Monday 18 March 2024 for consent holders in these Water Management Zones:
- Tākaka – Water Management Area – FMU – Stage 1 (a 20% cut for authorised weekly usage) remains
- Moutere/Dove/Powley Creek – Cease takes remains
- Moutere Eastern Groundwater – Stage 4 (a 65% cut ) remains
- Moutere Western Groundwater – Stage 2 (a 35% cut) remains
- Baton/Wangapeka/ Glenrae/Tadmor/Tapawera – Stage 1 commences
- Stanley Brook - Stage 1 remains
- Motupiko – Stage 2 commences
- Rainy – Stage 2 continues
- Wai-iti Zones – Stage 1 remains
- Waimea Affiliated and Unaffiliated – No Restrictions
The rain from the early part of last week has dissipated and since then there has been little more than minor drizzle in a few localised areas. A majority of our rainfall sites recorded no rain over the last week.
The rainfall forecast only indicates minor showers over the coming week with no meaningful rainfall expected until late March, during the Easter Weekend.
All the other rivers in Golden Bay and Upper Motueka catchment have since been in decline post the rain last week.
Moutere Eastern Groundwater Zone has stabilised over last week with groundwater levels recorded between 29.1 and 29.4 metres.
The Moutere Western Groundwater has risen slightly but continues to fluctuate over the same period. Therefore, current rationing remains in place for both zones.
The Wai-Iti zone remained very dry and the Kainui dam has dropped to being 31% full and water release has been throttled back to conserve dam storage.
Waimea Dam augmentation continued over the weekend with flows being about 2770 litres/second at Wairoa Gorge and the lower river flow at Appleby was about 1700 l/s.
The dam, which is currently 97% full, continues to release water intermittently while various commissioning works are also underway.
Dry Weather Task Force Convenor Kim Drummond said despite the valuable assistance that the dam had demonstrated, all parts of the district needed to be carefully monitored as ongoing dry weather conditions prevailed.
“While the Waimea management zone is in a much better space, thanks to the augmented water release, we need to be mindful that other areas are not as fortunate.
“Therefore, decisions made need to address areas where the impact of the dry conditions is still being felt. In some cases water users in those areas may be facing an extended dry spell.”
Kim said the declaration of a drought across the Top Of The South by Central Government on 14 March underlined the seriousness of the situation.
He hoped that the announcement would ease the current hardship faced by providing further support for farmers and growers, including tax support for those enduring the intense dry spell.
Regarding water direction decisions, it was important that Consent holders are familiar with Resource Consent conditions.
Watering of lawns or decorative gardens is not permitted for any water user situated in water management zones where rationing is in effect. This excludes users of Council managed reticulated water supply (where alternative restrictions will apply).
Stock drinking water is not affected by these water restrictions.
The position will be reviewed at the next meeting of the Dry Weather Taskforce on 19 March 2024.
Please note, these restrictions do not apply to users of Council-managed reticulated water supplies, which are subject to alternative and different restrictions.
Get more information on the current restrictions here.