Tough water curbs possible if dam fails

Water tankers may be needed on the streets of Brightwater during severe droughts if the Waimea dam project is shelved.

‘‘We’ll be slipping into Third World provisions [in a severe drought],’’ said Tasman district mayor Richard Kempthorne.

‘‘I think the community doesn’t realise that’s what we have ahead of us without the dam.’’

Kempthorne said he expected to be accused of scaremongering, but the rules for tougher rationing in dry spells were in place under the no-dam provisions in the Tasman Resource Management Plan (TRMP).

The rationing and related restrictions would affect rural and urban water users in the Richmond, Hope, Mapua, Brightwater and Redwood Valley areas, including businesses and industry. This is more than 20,000 people, or 40 per cent of the district’s population.

If a decision was made not to proceed with the proposed dam in the Lee Valley, near Nelson, the tougher restrictions were likely to be implemented from November 1.

Council activity planning adviser Helen Lane said businesses, industry and top commercial users would face usage cuts of 25 to 50 per cent before hitting a ‘‘cease take’’ situation in a severe drought.

Flows in the Wairoa and Waimea rivers falling to trigger points would prompt the rationing and corresponding restrictions.

Fletcher said the council would not be able to connect any new industry that used more than 15 cubic metres of water a day. Urban development in Richmond, Brightwater and Mapua would be confined to the 2013 residential envelope.

Environment and planning manager Dennis Bush-King said: ‘‘In the worstcase scenario, when there are ‘cease take’ directions, Tasman will face its own ‘Cape Town’ situation and people will collect water from tankers.’’

Kempthorne agreed that such a situation would not be palatable to ratepayers.

‘‘That is why I have taken so seriously trying to bring in the Waimea Community Dam – because of the impacts without it.’’

The council had a responsibility to provide a secure urban water supply, and would have to look at other options if the dam did not proceed, he said. However, those other options were ‘‘considerably more expensive’’.

The council’s Public Supply Bylaw will be used to give effect to the requirements in the TRMP. Consultation is under way on proposed changes to the bylaw, including a new water restrictions protocol.

Kempthorne encouraged people to find out more at consultation sessions scheduled to be held at Richmond Mall on July 26 and August 2, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm, as well as on August 9 from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

Submissions close on August 10.