Water supply safety secured thanks to funding from Govt

$2.5m given to replace, upgrade stopbank around treatment plant

Afarmer who assisted when the Waipawa Water Treatment Plant on Tikokino Rd succumbed to Cyclone Gabrielle’s floodwaters was on site in far drier conditions last week, listening to Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announce funding to help protect the plant.

Standing in front of the treatment plant, on dusty shingle in blazing sunshine, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced the Government would give $2.5 million to replace and upgrade the nearby stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant.

Welcoming the Prime Minster — and the announcement – Central Hawke’s Bay Mayor Alex Walker pointed out that “where you are standing, the floodwaters were at head height”.

“There was a tide mark, 80 per cent of the way up the the building. As the water rose, our treatment plant team ran for their lives.”

The flooding brought the treatment plant to a halt, cutting the water supply to about 3200 people in Waipawa and Otāne, many of whom were suffering flooding on their own properties.

As soon as the water receded, the Veolia treatment team had all staff on

the ground, working around the clock to restore the supply, in mud that was halfway up the doors of the plant.

With a digger to clear the mud, and a pump sourced from Hamilton, the water supply was back on in three

weeks, but it was untreated and a boil water notice remained in place for another three weeks.

The whole rebuild took six weeks — 1200 hours — with a huge collaboration from the council and partners required to stabilise the supply.

Wairarapa MP and Hawke’s Bay Regional lead recovery Minister Kieran McAnulty, said “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed.

“It’s been my role to listen to what the community needs and to advocate strongly for it. I know this is a top priority project for the region and will protect the supply of safe drinking water for approximately 3200 people.

“This funding will allow urgent remediation and give locals confidence in a continuous supply of safe drinking water to the townships of Waipawa and Otane.”

The funding will cover the cost of replacing and upgrading the stopbank near the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant which was destroyed during Cyclone Gabrielle and left the plant vulnerable to flooding and the community to a boilwater notice in heavy rain.

McAnulty said: “The protection of this water treatment plant is also part of a broader resilience project that will connect to the nearby township of Waipukurau, which is over 4700 people. We want communities to feel confident that their drinking water supply is being protected the best it can be without being faced with huge rate increases.

“I previously met with staff at Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant who told me of the tremendous hours they worked after the cyclone to get safe drinking water back for their communities.

“I’m stoked we are able to provide

Photo / Paul Taylor Celebrating the announcement of funding to protect the Waipawa Water Treatment Plant are (from left) Laura Kele, deputy chairwoman of Tamatea Pokai Whenua, Central Hawke’s Bay District Mayor Alex Walker, MP for Wairarapa and Minister of Local Government Kieran McAnulty, Three Waters operations manager Alex Horne, Veolia treatment team lead Natalie van Leeuwen, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Tukituki MP Anna Lorck.

Pam Waldrom took this photo as Cyclone Gabrielle’s floodwaters rose up the walls of the Waipawa Water Treatment Plant. “It went even higher than this,” she said.