Water ban causes confusion
AS water shortages continue throughout Southland, confusion between sprinkler bans and rural irrigators was raised during an Environment Southland meeting of council.
Council integration and implementation manager Nick Perham presented a report updating the regional councillors on the water situation across Southland.
The region is in status two of Environment Southland’s water shortage watch, meaning staff are actively watching water levels.
He said the current water situation in rivers and groundwater was trending down, and there was potential that it could move to more critical levels.
If the current rain forecast was correct, the region would likely stay at the same status for another week or two, though if it did not happen then it was likely to move to status three.
Chairman Nicol Horrell said that the Southland District Council’s sprinkler ban had caused some confusion with residents on irrigators, and more PR was needed to explain how it all worked.
Cr Alastair Gibson said there was a problem with Gore having to stop sprinkling at 17 cumecs.
A wedge was driven between rural and urban people who saw irrigators working.
Cr Jeremey McPhail said it would be good to explain that some rural irrigators had consents going down to 9 cumecs.
‘‘So when people see that, [irrigators are] not doing anything legally wrong. These are through consents.’’
Mr Perham said while working with various territorial colleagues, it was possible some confusing information could be presented on specifics around rural irrigation and domestic sprinklers.
Clearer messaging would be factored in going forward.
Cr Gibson said the message needed to be made simple.
‘‘The other point that I’d like to make is that the problem is ours. We’re doing nothing to change it, are we?
‘‘We haven’t put a dam in at Nokomai to save water, have we?
‘‘If we’re going into climate change . . . are we going to have these things happening annually?
‘‘We’re sitting there, we’re looking at it, we’re saying we can’t go any further, but let’s try fix it.’’