Council defend abandonment of million-dollar project to replace beleaguered bores

A local lobby group has called on two councils to take action in ensuring safe drinking water, following the contamination of the Brookvale Bores last year. PHOTO/FILE

The abandonment of a project which could have seen work under way to replace the Brookvale Bores prior to their recent contamination, is being defended by Hastings District Council.

More than a third of Havelock North's population fell ill in August after their drinking water supply, the Brookvale Bores, was contaminated with campylobactor.

The outbreak was also linked to the deaths of three elderly people, caused Havelock North businesses financial losses, cost local agencies nearly $4 million and sparked national concern about the safety of untreated water.

Recently lobby group Guardians of the Aquifer questioned the 2011 abandonment of a Hastings District Council project to find a new source of drinking water for Havelock North.

In 2009 council approved $4.7m in lending for the project, called the "New Source for Havelock North and Rising Main from Whakatu".

Its purpose was to investigate new, or enhanced water supplies in keeping with a condition in the Brookvale Bores 2008 consent, a council spokeswoman said.

In 2008 the council agreed to withdraw from using the Brookvale Bores as a primary water source, but requested an additional 10 years during which time the correct infrastructure would be developed.

Although the project was included in the 2009-2019 Long Term Plan (LTP), after investigation it was abandoned because it was decided to proceed with a more cost effective plan, the spokeswoman said.

This plan would also increase the water take from Frimley and improve the across-network capacity, and is included in the 2012-2022 LTP.

Recently the project was discussed by Guardians of the Aquifer spokeswoman Pauline Doyle when she called on both the district, and Hawke's Bay regional councils to take action at their respective recent annual plan submissions.

She called on the district council to investigate new water sources, and the regional council to "look after the [Heretaunga] aquifer".

She also urged that no district council staff be fired over the contamination "until we've had a chance to find out the truth".

Since a review of the Hastings District Council water services team was announced following the Havelock North inquiry, the possibility of job losses has been touted.

Ms Doyle stated there could not be "another loss of institutional knowledge, [the council's] defence for not learning the lessons after the previous campylobacter outbreak caused by Bore 2 in Brookvale Rd."

When asked about the project, Hastings CEO Ross McLeod said their concern was to make "the best investments possible" in water sources and treatment.

"Particularly in the context of young water being found in bores across the Heretaunga plains and some of the positive E. coli tests in certain bores in the last year," he said.

"Council is investing significantly in this work with a $12m capital investment programme provided for in the coming year."

"We have talked with Ms Doyle extensively about the water age test results and our investment rationale and approach, however it is unfortunate that some of the information she continues to present does not reconcile with historic record or the scientific evidence accepted by the Government Inquiry."

The consent to use the bores expires May 31, 2018.