Bore feedback highlights old sheep dip site
Feedback is being sought on the proposal to drill a new bore in order to upgrade the Oxford Rural No.1 water supply scheme.
The proposed strategy is to replace the existing Waimakariri River intake, which does not comply with drinking water standards and is at capacity.
The plan would be to drill new deep wells which would provide a high quality water source, as well as providing for future growth on the scheme.
One option is to drill an additional bore at the western end of Rockford Rd, the disadvantage being that there is a risk multiple bores would be necessary to find the required volume of water.
The second is to drill another bore on council-owned reserve land at McPhedrons Rd near the Watsons Rd intersection, which would require more pipework but yield a greater volume of water from just one well.
The recommended option is the latter.
However since going out to public feedback, the council has learned the preferred site is near an old sheep dip site, near this intersection but on the north of McPhedrons Road.
Council water asset manager Colin Roxburgh said there would have been about 200 metres separation between the two sites, but this was not clear on the map used in the consultation material.
Council had now sought expert external advice about whether the historic sheep dip would present a risk to a deep groundwater bore, and in particular requested a recommendation as to a safe separation distance between the two sites.
There were two large sections of council-owned land extending to the west and the southwest by about 2km in the vicinity of the Watsons Reserve Road and McPhedrons Road intersection, allowing for flexibility to create an amended site but still in the vicinity, Roxburgh said.
Therefore, rather than drastically change site it was more likely council would be recommended to make an amendment to the exact location in order to achieve a safe separation distance between the sheep dip site and the proposed well site, he said.
Roxburgh was planning on attending the Oxford A&P Show today to discuss the project with interested parties. The matter had highlighted the benefit of under- taking public consultation, he said, which would allow for more informed decisions at council level.
Feedback is welcomed on the project, which is budgeted at $2.4 million, either online via the WDC website or by emailing colin.roxburgh@wmk.govt.nz by this Wednesday, April 5.