Tasman's Dry Weather Task Force (DWTF) has updated its water restrictions for consent holders across the district.
The task force itself has now been stood down for the winter months. However, monitoring of all rivers and aquifers will continue in the coming months, as well as managing the staged lifting of restrictions on those zones still subject to water directions.
The following Water direction notices will apply from Monday 6 May 2024 for consent holders in these Water Management Zones:
Changes to previous week:
- Moutere Eastern Groundwater – move back to Stage 3 (a 50% cut on authorised weekly use)
- Moutere Western Groundwater – restrictions removed.
Continued directions:
- Motupiko – Stay on Stage 1 (a 20% cut on authorised weekly use)
A more settled weather pattern across Tasman district has meant river flows and aquifer levels are in slow decline. However, most are above the trigger levels for implementing restrictions.
The exceptions, as with the previous week’s review, are the Motupiko and the Deep Moutere Groundwater.
Irrigation water use has declined significantly but there is still some use for late apple and Kiwifruit harvest occurring through May and for some vegetables.
The much cooler mornings and lower afternoon temperatures are also contributing to a lower water demand.
This irrigation season has highlighted a number of challenges with how we manage Tasman’s freshwater and the council will be looking to address some of these through upcoming changes to the Tasman Resource Management Plan (TRMP).
The council directed staff late last year to commence work on possible changes to the TRMP. That work is in full swing and the council’s Strategy and Policy committee will be receiving an update on progress at it’s next meeting on 28 May.
Tasman DWTF Convenor Kim Drummond said the period between now and the return of warmer weather over summer offered a chance to reflect on the plan implications that follow on from the 2023/24 season, and to also consider possible changes on how to best communicate with consent holders going forward.
“Next summer we will have a fully commissioned dam in operation, which will guarantee the supply of water to the river and aquifers on the Waimea Plains – what needs to be established from here is how consent holders across the district can continue to be informed and heard.”
Regarding those existing DWTF decisions, it is important that Consent holders take heed of the directions and remain familiar with Resource Consent conditions.