The Waimea Community Dam reached a massive milestone when Te Kurawai o Pūhanga, the reservoir behind the Waimea Community Dam, reached its full capacity and the spillway started flowing on Sunday 21 January 2024.
Now that the reservoir is full, the next steps include final engineering analysis and verification of dam performance. The temporary pipes and facilities will then be removed to complete the final hook up of the permanent pipework. Waimea Water Ltd expects the project to be completed and commissioned in March 2024.
How does the dam work?
Water released from the Waimea Community Dam complements the natural system by supplementing low river flows to assist recharge of the Waimea aquifers. Assisted recharge of the aquifers maintains water levels for extraction and reduces the risk of saltwater intrusion from the coast. Maintaining higher river flows also improves river health.
The flow from the dam will support both horticulture and the domestic water wells near Appleby that supply water to the combined Richmond / Nelson water network. Māpua, Ruby Bay, Brightwater and Wakefield also use bores in the Waimea Plains, benefitting from the recharged aquifers.
The size of the reservoir mitigates the impact of a drought greater than a 1:50 year event.
To find out more about the Waimea Community Dam and see the latest video footage, visit waimeawater.nz.(external link)
The construction of the Waimea Community Dam is almost complete, and the reservoir is filling in controlled stages.
As at 17 November, the dam was holding just over 3.5 million cubic metres of water with the maximum capacity of the dam at about 13 million cubic metres.
As the reservoir fills, the dam’s water level is kept at hold points for extended periods to allow for testing and engineering measurements on the dam structure. Once the dam’s performance at that stage is assessed and verified, the reservoir level is built up to the next hold point. To date, the dam has passed three of four monitoring stages and is performing as expected.
However, the region’s dry spring weather means there has not yet been enough rain to keep up the momentum of filling the reservoir. If the dry weather continues, based on the current average rainfall, the reservoir may not fully fill until January/February 2024. This will push back ‘practical completion’ of the dam one month to February 2024.
Options for how the partially filled dam could provide some service and storage throughout the predicted dry summer are being explored. The dam will continue to release the required minimum flow into the Lee River to maintain its health.
Tasman Mayor Tim King said even a partially filled dam will provide benefits during a very dry summer, as the dam has been constructed to meet the demand for 100 years’ worth of irrigation and urban needs – not all of which is currently required.
Meanwhile, the lack of rain does not impact the budget, with the cost forecast remaining at $198.2 million.
Read the latest update here(external link).
The Waimea Community Dam achieved an important milestone at 4pm on Friday 26 May when the reservoir was closed, ready for filling. Read more here.(external link)
The Waimea Community Dam is one of the region's most important infrastructure projects and the largest dam built in New Zealand for over 20 years.
The dam will:
Find out more about why we need a dam.
Visit the Waimea Water website(external link).
The site for the Waimea Community Dam is in the Lee Valley.
Map showing location of Waimea Community Dam and reservor
Waimea Water is a Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) established to manage the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Waimea Community Dam. Waimea Water represents the shared interests of Tasman District Council (majority shareholder) and Waimea Irrigators Ltd.
Visit the Waimea Water website to view current progress on the dam constructions.
The Presentations and Reports page on the Waimea Water website includes some useful information including Shareholder Presentations, Annual/Mid-Year/Quarterly reports, and Tasman District Council Meeting Presentation.
Over the years various reports have been submitted to Full Council and various council committees on the Waimea Community Dam.
Below is a list of all Council meetings that include reports or presentations on the Waimea Dam. Links to the specific meetings will be added in the future, however, in the interim, you can visit our meetings page to find the meeting agendas and minutes.
Report Name and any significant decisions or events |
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| 16 Dec 2021 | Full Council |
Waimea Community Dam Inquiry Report |
| 4 Nov 2021 | Full Council |
Waimea Water Ltd - Annual Report 2021 |
| 12 Aug 2021 | Full Council |
Waimea Community Dam - Hydro Generation Enabling Works |
| 4 Jun 2021 | Full Council |
Waimea Community Dam - Investigation Options Waimea Water Ltd - Quarterly Report to Shareholders Waimea Water Limited - Final Statement of Intent 2021-2022 Waimea Community Dam - Funding & Negotiations Outcome Waimea Community Dam - Nelson City Council Funding Agreement (Confidential) Waimea Community Dam - Cost Overrun Agreements - Confidential (Confidential) |
| 8 Apr 2021 | Full Council |
Waimea Water Limited - Draft Statement of Intent 2021-2022 report Waimea Community Dam - Nelson City Council Funding Agreement (Confidential) Waimea Community Dam - Project Update Report (Confidential) |
| 18 Mar 2021 | Full Council | Waimea Water Limited 2020 Mid-Year Report |
| 25 Feb 2021 | Full Council |
Late Item - Waimea Community Dam Cost Overruns Funding for Inclusion in the Long Term Plan Consultation Document Report Waimea Water Ltd provided a new expected cost to complete the dam of $158.4m. Waimea Water Limited Update (Confidential) |
| 3 Dec 2020 | Full Council |
Waimea Community Dam - Project Update (Confidential) Revenue and Financing Policy Proposals for Funding the Water Sypply Activity (Waimea Community Dam) |
| 22 Oct 2020 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam - Funding of Cost Overruns (Confidential) |
| 1 Oct 2020 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam - CIIL Loan Facility (Confidential) |
| 10 Sep 2020 | Full Council |
Waimea Community Dam - Project Update (Confidential) Waimea Community Dam - CILL Funding Request (Confidential) |
| 30 Jul 2020 | Full Council |
Waimea Water Ltd - Final Statement of Intent 2020/23 Waimea Community Dam - Nelson City Council Funding Agreement (Confidential) Waimea Community Dam - WWL Share Subscription Agreement (Confidential) |
| 25 Jun 2020 | Full Council | Appointment of Director, Waimea Water Ltd (Confidential) |
| 21 Apr 2020 | Full Council |
Waimea Community Dam - Estimating Review Waimea Water Ltd - Draft Statement of Intent 2020-2023 Waimea Community Dam - Funding of Projected Cost Increases and Other Matters Waimea Community Dam - Contractor Advance Facility (Confidential) |
| 21 Feb 2020 | Full Council |
Waimea Water Ltd 2019/20 Mid-Year Report and Project Update (Confidential) Forecast cost to complete the dam increased to $129.4m due to 'unforeseen geological conditions'. |
| 13 Feb 2020 | Full Council | Waimea Water Ltd - Board Director Vacancy (Confidential) |
| 12 Sep 2019 | Full Council | Waimea Water Ltd - Inaugural Annual Report 2018/2019 |
| 12 Dec 2019 | Full Council |
Matters for the Statement of Expectations Waimea Water Ltd 2019/20 (Confidential) Waimea Community Dam - Ngati Koata Parternship Agreement Privisions for Hydro Power (Confidential) |
| 20 Jun 2019 | Full Council | Waimea Water Ltd - Final Statement of Intent 2019/2020 |
| 9 May 2019 | Full Council |
Waimea Community Dam - Ngati Koata Partnering Deed and M.A.K. Stuart Agreement to Aquire Land (Confidential) and Supplementary Information |
| 28 Mar 2019 | Full Council | Waimea Water Limited - Draft Statement of Intent 2019/20 |
| 14 Feb 2019 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam - Project Report
Waimea Community Dam Final Project Agreements Report (Confidential) |
| 30 Nov 2018 | Full Council |
Waimea Community Dam Project Council confirmed its commitment to build the dam. Expected cost to be $105.8m Waimea Community Dam - Project Agreements (Confidential) |
| 8 Nov 2018 | Full Council |
Tasman District Council Appointmens to the Waimea Dam CCO Board (Confidential) Proposed Waimea Community Dam - Nelson City Council $5m Project Contribution (Confidential) Waimea Water Ltd Consitution (Confidential) |
| 23 Oct 2018 | Full Council |
Waimea Community Dam - Negotiations Update (Confidential) |
| 27 Sep 2018 | Full Council | Funding Agreement for the Waimea Dam Project (Committment Phase - Part 3) between CIIL, WIL and Tasman District Council (Confidential) |
| 6 Sep 2018 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam (Confidential) |
| 28 Aug 2018 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam Project |
| 9 Aug 2018 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam Project Report |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Full Council |
Waimea Community Dam ProjectTerm Sheet Disclosure to Councillors Waimea Community Dam Project- Hydroelectric Power Generation Waimea Water Augmentation Scheme - Local Bill (Confidential) |
| 24 May 2018 | Full Council | Waimea Dam Project Report |
| 5 Apr 2018 | Full Council |
Waimea Community Dam - CCO Formation Waimea Community Dam Project Report |
| 22 Feb 2018 | Full Council |
Decision on Waimea Community Dam Consultation Document - Statement of Proposal for Governance and Funding Arrangments Waimea Community Dam Project Report |
| 1 Feb 2018 | Full Council | Proposed Waimea Community Dam - Report on Submissions to the Statement of Proposal October 2017 |
| 14 Dec 2017 | Full Council | Appointing a Preferred Contractor to Construct the Waimea Community Dam (Confidential) |
| 21 Nov 2017 | Motueka Community Board | Waimea Community Dam presentation |
| 14 Nov 2017 | Golden Bay Community Board | Waimea Community Dam presentation |
| 16 Nov 2017 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam Project Report |
| 19 Oct 2017 | Full Council |
Adoption of Consultation Document Containing the Proposal on Waimea Community Dam Governance and Funding Options Council adopted the consultation document for the Waimea Community Dam which estimated the costs at $75.9m Waimea Community Dam Project Report Waimea Community Dam - Joint Venture Funding Proposal Update (Confidential) |
| 7 Sep 2017 | Full Council |
Waimea Community Dam - Project Report Waimea Community Dam - Joint Venture Funding Proposal (Confidential) |
| 27 Jul 2017 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam - Project Report |
| 22 Jun 2017 | Full Council |
Delegations for Waimea Dam - Land Acquisition Waimea Community Dam - Project Report |
| 14 Jun 2017 | Full Council | Waimea Water Augmentation Project - Next Steps |
| 11 May 2017 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam - Project Report |
| 23 Mar 2017 | Full Council |
Waimea Community Dam - Project Report Council Update on Waimea Community Dam Joint Venture Working Party Negotiations (Confidential) |
| 2 Mar 2017 | Full Council |
Waimea Water Augmentation Project - Chief Executives Overview Waimea Community Dam Consultation Waimea Community Dam - Joint Venture Agreement Waimea Community Dam - Joint Venture Negotiations (Confidential) Waimea Community Dam - Procurement (Confidential) Waimea Community Dam - Notice of Intention to Take Land (Confidential) |
| 2 Feb 2017 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam - Project Report |
| 10 Nov 2016 | Full Council |
Waimea Water Augmentation Project - Status Report Waimea Water Augumentation - Project Funding (Confidential) |
| 22 Sep 2016 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam - Project Status Report |
| 11 Aug 2016 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam - Project Status Report |
| 30 Jun 2016 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam Status Report |
| 12 May 2016 | Full Council |
Waimea Community Dam - Project Status Report Waimea Community Dam - Proposed Agreement on Joint Procurement (Confidential) |
| 31 Mar 2016 | Full Council |
Waimea Community Dam - Project Status Report including Council Response to WCDL Funding Proposal Land and Access in the Lee Valley for the purposes of teh Waimea Community Dam Project (Confidential) |
| 18 Feb 2016 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam - Project Status Update |
| 3 Dec 2015 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam - Project Status Update |
| 22 Oct 2015 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam - Project Status Update (Confidential) |
| 10 Sep 2015 | Full Council |
Waimea Community Dam - Project Status Update Supplementary Report - Waimea Water Augmentatino Project (Confidential) |
| 30 Jul 2015 | Full Council |
Waimea Water Augmentation Project - Financial Update Waimea Community Dam - Project Status Update Waimea Community Dam Project - Funding and Suppport (Confidential) |
| 28 May 2015 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam - Decisions for the Long Term Plan 2015-2025 |
| 16 Apr 2015 | Full Council | Waimea Water Augmentation Project - Update |
| 19 Feb 2015 | Full Council | Waimea Community Dam |
| 11 Dec 2014 | Full Council |
Proposed Waimea Community Dam - Funding and Governance Options Proposal to Purchase Land, Waimea River (Confidential) |
| 14 Oct 2014 | Motueka Community Board | Waimea Community Dam presentation |
| 9 Oct 2014 | Full Council | Statement of Proposal for Funding and Governance of the Proposed Waimea Community Dam |
| 18 Sep 2014 | Full Council | Waimea Water Augmentation Report - Governance and Funding Considerations |
| 30 Jun 2014 | Full Council | Waimea Water Augmentation Report - Governance and Funding Considerations (Confidential) |
| 30 May 2014 | Full Council | Waimea Water Augmentation Report - Governance and Funding Considerations (Confidential) |
| 13 Feb 2014 | Full Council | Report on Commissioners' Recommendation for Waimea Water Management and Augmentation (Lee Dam) Plan Changes 45-48 (Confidential) |
| 5 Dec 2013 | Full Council |
Lee Valley Dam Funding and Compliance Issues Lee Valley Dam Memorandum of Understanding |
| 21 Feb 2013 | Environment and Planning Committee | Lee Valley Community Dam |
| 29 Nov 2012 | Full Council | Proposed Lee Valley Dam - An Update |
Please note some of these meetings will have been held in confidential session, please see the agenda of the specific meeting for the details.
On the 4th June 2021 Council approved an independent investigation into the Waimea Community Dam.
To review and comment on the quality of the advice and background information received by the Council in making its decision to proceed with the project. This includes an assessment of the role of the Council officers in providing advice and supporting information.
The review would comprise reviewing the technical and other information commissioned by and presented to both the Project Governance Board and the Council over the period until November 2018. This should also include the associated decision-making process up to and including the Full Council meeting held 30 November 2018. The information that would be considered includes the following:
The review will assess the overall quality of the advice received and whether the decision was robust. The information in the Council reports is likely to be highly technical. Whilst it is important to note the level of technical input, the focus of the review will be based on how that information was presented in a way that could be understood by decision-makers.
The letter of engagement and full terms of reference are here (pdf 576 KB).
Final Report
The final report was presented to Full Council on 16 December 2021. Here are the Inquiry Report (pdf 538 KB) and a Summary Presentation. (pdf 186 KB)
