November 12, 2014
Big water take planned for Hastings
Ngati Kahungunu hapu are concerned at plans to extract up to 2.5 million cubic metres a year of water from the Heretaunga aquifer for an export bottling plant.
A hapu hui at Waipatu Marae on Sunday called for a moratorium on all new consents or increases to existing consents for water extraction from the Heretaunga aquifer.
The hapu want the council consent authorities to taihoa until the hydrology is investigated and communities, industry and growers can be sure that the new plant won’t have a detrimental effect on current users.
Another hui has been called at the marae for the general public this Sunday to discuss the issue.
Marae spokesperson Ngahiwi Tomoana says the new plant would be the fourth largest extraction from the aquifer behind the Hastings town water supply and Watties.
He says the combined hapu of Heretaunga have a treaty claim over the aquifer, and this will be re-examined in light of the threat to its integrity.
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