Campaigner Pauline Doyle says she is encouraged by Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Jan Wright's recommendation that regional councils develop plans outlining "where oil and gas drilling can and cannot take place".
Ms Doyle, spokesperson for Guardians of the Aquifer, presented her concerns about the potential impact of fracking in the region to Hawke's Bay Regional Council yesterday as part of the council's annual plan submission process.
Her presentation included a map which shows an exploration permit held by Endeavour Energy covers parts of the Ngaruroro and Tutaekuri rivers which feed into the Heretaunga Plains aquifer.
Guardians of the Aquifer is concerned that while oil and gas exploration activity has been excluded from the region's aquifers, fracking material may still be able to enter the water system.
"There is a real risk that this will happen if an earthquake causes well casings to rupture in the vicinity of any groundwater layers," Ms Doyle said. "[Dr Wright] warns that drilling for oil will be rapidly expanding on the East Coast. She recommends that regional councils identify areas where oil and gas drilling cannot take place, and revise their plans accordingly."