Lake squeezed by water shortage

Water supply to Masterton’s Henley Lake is so problematic the council is considering converting the lake into a wetland.

This could end recreational use by dragon-boaters, waka ama, kayakers and RC powerboaters.

Masterton District Council can’t get a consent to continue to take water from the nearby Ruamahanga River, which flows past the lake, because of new regional and national policies.

Ivan Karaitiana, of Wairarapa Dragon Boat Club, said their sport would be destroyed in the area if they couldn’t use the lake.

‘‘For us it basically means the end of our sport because we would have to travel outside of the region.’’

He said there must be solutions where the council could get enough water to the lake to keep it functioning to current levels.

The Wairarapa Waka Ama

Lyn Patterson Masterton mayor

Canoe Club would be similarly affected by the proposed changes and club captain Paddy Rimene said not being able to use the lake would be devastating.

They didn’t want to degrade the river by taking more water out but Rimene suggested there could be ways of better managing the water for ecological benefits.

He said if the neighbouring wetlands were supported by water flow from the lake then the consenting authorities might be more inclined to allow more volume when it was available.

‘‘We could utilise the wetland at both ends and use that for a feeder for the lake and back to itself,’’ he said.

Masterton mayor Lyn Patterson said Greater Wellington Regional Council’s new water take limits and the National Policy Statement on Fresh Water Management meant restricted access to water.

‘‘The reality is we can’t get consent to get water out of the river . . . and Henley Lake needs flowing water.’’

Henley Lake has been beset by toxic algae problems for many years and increased pressure on the amount of water available from local waterways was limiting options.

The council was going to engage with the public and users next month. A council spokeswoman said they would be interviewing users of the lake area such as walkers to see which parts they value the most.

‘‘The reality is we can’t get consent to get water out of the river . . . and Henley Lake needs flowing water.’’