For several years, CHB had been dealing with issues similar to those now before the Heretaunga Plains community - who are facing aquifer over-allocation and the possibility of a Water Conservation Order in one of its main catchments.
"What seems to have been forgotten is that the Tukituki catchment was identified as the priority area in the region for improving water quality and quantity - that's why the whole conversation about Plan Change 6 and the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme began several years ago," Ms Walker said.
She said CHB water consents had been over-allocated for several years, with no new consents considered by the regional council in the catchment - which produced about a quarter of Hawke's Bay's primary produce exports.
"Quite rightly, water storage was identified as a key to securing the future for water in our community and Central Hawke's Bay District Council will continue to support initiatives that have water storage at their core. This may be Ruataniwha, or it may be some other solutions.
"Water-users in the catchment (and beyond) are now faced with the short-term issue of restricted water takes as Plan Change 6 comes into effect in mid-2018. Because RWSS was promoted as the solution to this part of the Plan for so long, water-users are now having to think about water quantity solutions in another way - and quickly."
Yesterday regional council chairman Rex Graham said CHB had not been forgotten about.
"I am deeply concerned that we ran Plan Change six alongside the [RWSS].
"The people who were the proponents of the dam...it was a big risk they took with the lives and the aspirations of the people of Central Hawke's Bay and it hasn't worked out.
"So now we need to look at Plan Change six...because we don't want to affect people negatively and so we'll have to say, 'how do we make this work a different way'."
He said he wanted CHB residents to "get their heads together" and give feedback, and input to the council what they wanted in terms of solutions for water issues in the district.
