Controversial call looms on taking out more Hutt River water

BY NICOLAS BOYACK

Five weeks out from the election, city councillors are being asked to make a decision about how much water can safely be taken from the Hutt River.

The operations and compliance committee will tonight discuss a recommendation to support a bid by the Greater Wellington Regional Council to temporarily increase the amount of water taken at Kaitoke weir for bulk water supply.

Some city councillors are not happy with the prospect of more water being taken while the lining of the Stuart Macaskill water storage lakes north of Upper Hutt is upgraded.

Some city councillors have argued in the past that GWRC has not done enough research on the impacts on the Hutt River in its application to reduce the minimum flow at Kaitoke from 600 litres per second to 400.

There is a concern that it will increase the likelihood of algal blooms and lead to further deterioration in the health of the river.

In a report to the committee, HCC general manager Bruce Sherlock says GWRC has received "thorough and extensive independent scientific" advice which shows the extra water can be taken safely.

"The assessment demonstrates that there will be no more than minor adverse effects on the environment."

City councillors have not been supplied with a copy of the research, although the findings have been summarised in an appendix to the report.

GWRC has analysed river flow during the past 30 years and estimates that in an "average" summer, additional water will only have be taken on 18 days. In a dry summer, such as 2007/08, extra water will have been taken on most days.

That's a prospect that is not likely to sit comfortably with city councillors.

Cr Max Shierlaw, who has been outspoken on the issue, says the situation is "ridiculous" and he is surprised by the recommendation in the report.

"We are being asked to give approval in principle nte with very, very little information ... I think we should reserve our position until we get our own technical advice."

The council cannot just reject the proposal, as it is clear the region may need the extra water.

But the city council considers itself the guardian of the river and Cr Shierlaw says it can only make an informed decision if it gets its own independent advice.

- Hutt News