Home News Opinion Videos Blogs Features Family Notices Classifieds Photos Events Clubs Advertising Contact
Sport Focus on the Land Entertainment
Editorials Columns Letters
News Market Place
Growers fear limits to their water-take
Saturday, July 07, 2012 • Shaan Te Kani
SETTING limits on irrigation use in the Poverty Bay Flats was one of the main concerns raised by farmers and growers at the Fresh Water Advisory Group community meeting yesterday.

More than 50 people attended the meeting at Bushmere Arms, which discussed the draft freshwater management plan with Waipaoa users.

Advisory group representatives delivered the plan’s vision, which is to ensure the long-term sustainability of freshwater resources as well as considering economic and social activities.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the public to ask questions, raise concerns and get involved in the process.

With the Makauri aquifer being the main aquifer used to irrigate crops on the Flats, the possibility of it being in decline was discussed.

Some attendees at the meeting seemed worried that this would put more restrictions on their agricultural activities.

One local grower spoke about a difficulty in predicting how much water he would need to use for his crops each year.

“It is a very hard process,” he said.

“Every year I struggle to say (to the council) how much water I want accurately and I’m not alone.”

Others agreed asking if there was any point to permit limits because “we use water when we need it”.

Yvette Kinsella of Gisborne District Council said with these types of issues it was important to reach some agreement about what the objectives of the plan would be.

“It’s about finding a balance between social and economic values,” she said.

“We’re not saying that we’re now ready to set limits on the aquifers.”

One attendee raised concern about the likelihood of more droughts in the area and asked whether the advisory group had any plans in place regarding climate change.

Advisory group member Stuart Davis of LeaderBrand said according to Niwa there would be longer dry gaps between big downpours for the district.

Questions were also asked about who set the standards for water quality.

Advisory group member Chris Kennan of Horticulture New Zealand said it would vary between each catchment.

Others asked how “heavy- handed” the council would be about water quality.

With the draft plan still in the development stage, work would be done one catchment at a time, with the Waipaoa being the first on the agenda.

Yvette Kinsella said there needed to be input from the community to make the plan work.

“In order to be aware of each other’s views it is important that we work together,” she said.

The public were encouraged to join a working group, which branches off the main advisory group.
Comments
No comments - be the first to comment
Poll

Do you agree with a bid to pull bridge jumpers away from unsafe road bridges in the city by building “bombing platforms” for youngsters in safe places along the Turanganui River?

Please read: Call for ‘bombing platforms’
Yes
No
Don't Know
Send in your
News
Letters
Columns
Events
Clubs
Classifieds
Poll suggestions
Explore The Gisborne Herald
News Editorial Features Events
Sport Letters to the Editor Family Notices Clubs
Focus on the Land Columns Classifieds Advertising
News Features Polls Photos Contact
64 Gladstone Road, PO Box 1143, Gisborne, New Zealand | Ph: +64 6 869 0600 | Fax: +64 6 869 0643 (editorial) | Fax: +64 6 869 0644 (advertising) | News Hotline: 0800 NEWSLINE (639 754) | info@gisborneherald.co.nz Copyright © The Gisborne Herald