June 29, 2020
Waikato ecology top of mind for council
Waikato Regional Council has invited bodies with an interest in Auckland’s water crisis to a summit this Wednesday that could look for pragmatic solutions that don’t put an excess strain on the Waikato River.
The council is currently considering an application from Watercare to draw 100 million litres a day from winter flows to give the city’s reservoirs a chance to recover before summer.
That’s separate to a resource consent application lodged in 2013 for a 200 million litre a day take, which was lodged to deal with expected demand at the end of the decade.
Deputy chair Kataraina Hodge says the Waikato council is annoyed at Auckland asking Government to fast track its consents, rather than talking it through with its neighbours.
She says the ecology of the river is being lost from the conversation.
"So what do we do? Do we give people the water and not worry about our indigenous fish we want to eat. like the eel and whitebait? It's not only people we are worried about. We are also worried about the ecology of the river's well being and what they also help grow, because it doesn't just feed Auckland. It feeds and looks after everyone from Tūwharetoa all the way to the port," Ms Hodge says.
Watercare says it is double booked on Wednesday and can’t get to Hamilton for the summit, but Ms Hodge says she hopes it can attend by virtual link.
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