Inquiry gets update on Havelock North water-safety progress

Hastings District Council chief executive Ross McLeod was among those at the Hastings District Court yesterday for stage two of the Havelock North water inquiry. Photo/Paul Taylor

Efforts to confirm Havelock North's drinking water supply is safe being sourced from Brookvale Bore 3 was the main focus of the Havelock North Water Inquiry as Stage 2 hearings began at the Hastings District Court yesterday.

Also under the scrutiny were the actions of the Joint Working Group formed during the initial stages of the inquiry last year to demonstrate a level of co-operation between the different agencies charged with providing safe drinking water.

The group comprised representatives from the Hastings District Council, Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Hawke's Bay District Health Board and Napier City Council and independent chair Chris Tremain spoke at yesterday's hearing about the benefits of the group and progress it had made in the past six months.

He said the initiative had enabled the different parties to come together to discuss significant matters in a collaborative and non-threatening way.

"If I look back at what happened there was some animosity between the agencies and the Joint Working Group has helped significantly to mend some of those initial concerns.

"Members of the group have been very positive and collaborative," he said.

Looking to the future, a priority for the panel was the establishment of ongoing terms of reference for the group and defining its purpose, which Mr Tremain said was a fundamental issue.

Inquiry panel chair Lyn Stevens, QC, asked that all efforts be made to formulate the terms of reference as quickly as possible, with hopes it could be ready by the time the hearings reconvene in August.

With a report-back deadline for its final findings on December 8 this year, the panel was also keen for further work investigating the Brookvale catchment to be completed sooner rather than later.

Hastings council group manager asset management Craig Thew also took the stand yesterday and was questioned over delays in determining the cause of an elevated E.coli reading at Brookvale Bore 3 in October 2015.

This was highlighted during the first stage of the inquiry when there was criticism of this event not being followed up and investigated at the time.

In a report to the inquiry, the Hastings District Council said it was planned to shut the bore in coming months to conduct further testing of risks in the Te Mata aquifer, particularly the earthworks that had been done by Te Mata Mushrooms when realigning the Mangateretere Stream, which was said to have breached the aquitard.

Mr Stevens said it was now nearly two years since this event.

"The panel is frustrated - we want to see some action - could this be upgraded in terms of priority?"

Mr Thew said he accepted the inquiry wanted the issue closed off, but he said an ongoing extensive programme of work needed addressing and noted that in the meantime Brookvale Bore 3 water had a high level of treatment.

Under further questioning, he said it was possible that this work could be made a priority.

This week's hearings were due to continue until tomorrow,with further hearings to consider how or whether the learnings from Havelock North could be applied nationally due to be held in August.