Gisborne water: Project Wai gains Gisborne council’s support despite concerns from one councillor

The Waingake dams are a key component of Gisborne's water supply system. Photo / Liam Clayton

A “Project Wai” initiative aiming to develop a long-term, secure irrigation and water supply scheme for the district has successfully gained “in-principle” support from Gisborne District Council.

Project Wai proposes developing new water storage ponds throughout the Waipaoa catchment area to store surplus water for use during droughts and other dry periods.

There are also plans to develop distribution networks to ensure consistent water supply for horticulture, viticulture and farming.

A promotional document for the project says it also requires resilience strategies for the region to adapt to climate change, water conservation measures, promotion of water efficiencies, engaging with community stakeholders and collaborative efforts with public and private organisations.

It says significant investment will be required.

The document, presented to the council’s operations committee on Thursday, was put together by project consultant and Tolaga Bay farmer Clive Bibby and two concept designers, former council manager of engineering and works Peter Higgs and former Eastland Group chief executive Matt Todd.

They did not attend the meeting. Consultant Amanda Langley spoke on Project Wai and answered councillor questions by Zoom.

Mayor Rehette Stoltz and all councillors with the exception of councillor Debbie Gregory voted to accept the staff recommendation to offer support based on continued council involvement and the inclusion of a broadened scope of work.

Gregory said she was concerned about the Project Wai report, twice referring to a lack of clarity about whether there was a mandate from the “broader irrigator-water user group”.

Those water users should be “on board” before any move to a feasibility study, she said.

The council had hosted a workshop with iwi representatives where the discussions included the council’s role in non-municipal water supply.

Gregory was worried the council was “digging into issues it did not need to yet”.

Council lifelines director Tim Barry said he understood Project Wai organisers wanted to develop the plan swiftly and “not get bogged in consultation elements, potentially”.

They were not averse to meeting other parties.

Gregory asked why Project Wai needed “in-principle” support from the council.

Stoltz said the council’s in-principle support was required for Project Wai to approach funding agencies.

“We’re not saying we support it,” the mayor said.

When the question of any council financial commitment was raised, the council’s chief financial officer Pauline Foreman said the project’s early-stage scoping would be within the existing freshwater policy and planning budget.

The council’s director of sustainable futures, Jo Noble, said “support in principle” meant, if granted, that the next step would be for council staff to have in-depth discussions with the project leaders and report back to councillors before fully committing resources or making a financial commitment.

Project Wai organisers were seeking council support rather than letting the project “go off entirely on its own without any influence or direction from council”.

Larry Foster was one of several councillors who spoke in favour of the staff recommendation.

Bibby, Higgs and Todd were respected men with community connections, he said.

“Let’s get on with it.”