Hastings council approves water strategy a year on from gastro outbreak

Brookvale Road bores 1 and 2 have already been decommissioned since last year's gastro outbreak, and Brookvale Bore 3 is set to follow suit. Photo/File

As the one-year anniversary of the Havelock North gastro outbreak nears, Hastings councillors have welcomed adopting a new long-term drinking water supply strategy for the district.

On August 12 last year, the first cases of gastroenteritis in Havelock North, caused by drinking water contaminated by campylobacter, came to the attention of health authorities.

It was the start of a wave of sickness that ended up striking down more than 5000 residents, and had been the subject of a lengthy and ongoing independent government inquiry into how it happened, and how to prevent such an outbreak in the future.

At an extraordinary meeting held yesterday, the Hastings District Council gave the green light to a $12-million work programme that will involve shutting down Brookvale Bore 3 for good, identifying potential new water sources and enhancing the network overall.

Councillor Geraldine Travers declared it the most exciting day in her tenure as a first-term councillor.

"I'm really excited that we have a multi-faceted solution looking at an alternative way to get drinking water to Havelock North that will give us the resilience we need to restore confidence to the community."

Acting mayor Sandra Hazlehurst agreed that the water strategy was a positive step towards the council's No 1priority to provide safe drinking water in the long term.

Although Brookvale Bore 3's resource consent was valid until May next year, group manager asset management Craig Thew said the first key decision was to close down this bore, and augment the water supply with a new mains water pipe between Hastings and Havelock North.

In addition, the water take from existing Hastings bores would be increased where possible, and new bores drilled - with the location subject to testing but most likely within the wider Tomoana area.

Acting deputy mayor Simon Nixon queried whether there was a plan to communicate with residents about ongoing treatment options, including chlorination.

Chief executive Ross McLeod responded that this had not been discussed yet but noted that it was an issue of community concern.

"We are also waiting to see where the inquiry heads with its findings with respect to treatment and chlorination and the potential reform of the drinking water safety regime."

He said these issues would be brought back to the council, but under the current regulatory regime chlorination, and its ability to treat any residual contamination in the water pipe network, was needed for now.

At the meeting the councillors also agreed to a proposal to establish a Hawke's Bay drinking water governance committee.

The aim of the committee was to provide governance oversight to the Joint Working Group that was established late last year by the Hawke's Bay DHB, the Hawke's Bay Regional Council and the Hastings District Council to drive greater collaboration between the agencies on water safety matters.

To date the Hawke's Bay DHB, the Hawke's Bay Regional Council, the CHB District Council and the Hastings council had confirmed their commitment to join in the committee.

The Napier City Council and the Wairoa District Council were also considering their participation.