‘Selfless’ farmers share precious water
Northland’s fire crews are doing their bit to conserve water despite working flat out to put out preventable fires lit by people disregarding the fire ban.
Fire and Emergency NZ Muriwhenua area commander Wipari Henwood says there have been more than 100 preventable fires in the Far North since the prohibited season was announced in January.
Three 15,000-litre portable dams have been set up in Kaikohe and Kait¯aia and filled with stream water for firefighting use.
Firefighters are using water tankers and the water carried in fire appliances, rather than hydrants.
They’re washing hoses and kits at Moerewa’s freezing works and may soon have to travel to Whangarei.
It’s time consuming and costly, Henwood says.
But he’s heartened by several “selfless” farmers who have offered fire crews the use of their dams.
They include farmer Terence Brocx who has offered water from his O¯ haeawai and Puketi farms and Pakaraka farmer Alec Jack from Ngawhitu Ltd who’s offered water from his dam known as
Jack’s Lake.
“What’s critical for us is the turnaround time to get to a fire,” principal rural fire officer Myles Taylor says. “It’s great that farmers who face severe water shortages services Colin Dall said district councils might need to look at imposing water restrictions earlier than normal.
Kaipara District Council was the first to impose level 4 restrictions in Dargaville including Baylys Beach.
Kaipara Mayor Dr Jason Smith said Kaihu river is monitored constantly, and the fact it’s dropping is of concern.
Council has asked the NRC to move into an “emergency water take situation” to continue taking water from the river, he said.
“The challenge for Kaipara is that most people are on tank water not town water, and the tank water supplies normally come from Dargaville.
“Right now, there are limits on water carriers being able to get their water from the Dargaville supply. The only people who can do so are people with medical conditions.”
Smith said though the North has seen dry periods before, this year is significant because it’s three weeks early.
“It makes the journey longer. That’s a huge concern.”
Far North Mayor John Carter said council is making “significant progress” on establishing temporary and permanent, long-term supplies to supplement Kaikohe and Kaitaia water sources.
The council is also working with other local authorities and government officials to create an overall water strategy, which covers infrastructure and water retention, he said.
“We’re doing as much as we can given where we’re at. Going forward I’m confident we’ll get temporary and long-term supplementary supplies that will help us through circumstances like this. I’m hoping to have this in place within the next 12-15 months.”
The Government has promised $31.2 million to progress water storage projects in Northland in a bid to make the region resilient in the face of extreme weather.
The Northland water storage and use project has identified about 6300ha of potential land, which may be suitable for conversion to horticulture in Kaipara as part of a water supply scheme, another 1600ha south of Kaikohe and 1700ha near Lake Omapere.
Northland MP Matt King said though this would help with land intensification in years to come, the project won’t be an answer to town’s water supply issues.
He said it’s not acceptable to run out of water, particularly when there are regular droughts combined with population growth.
“[Council has] clearly not invested enough in finding and funding water supplies and infrastructure. Towns are growing and if we’re having water restrictions every time it gets dry it’s not good enough. We’re supposed to be a First World country.”
Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis said 2019 was one of the driest years for many decades.
“This is a very challenging time. I know everyone in our communities, particularly in Kaikohe and Kaita¯ia, will be coming together and supporting each other to get through this.”