More irrigation likely to be halted

Falling river levels and a dry weather forecast will probably lead to a number of irrigation water consents being shut off during the next week, the Marlborough District Council is warning.

Rai River consents were shut off earlier this week and those on several other rivers are likely to follow, environment committee chairman Graeme Taylor said this morning.

The Waihopai River is just above the class-B threshold and is likely to be shut off by the end of the week, and consents on the Wairau and Lower Pelorus rivers will probably be close behind.

At this stage, the MetService forecast gives no indication of rain in the next 14 days, so there is a high probability of these shutoffs happening, Mr Taylor said.

A Waihopai class-B shutoff would affect about 20 consent holders. There are about 80 consent holders involved in the Wairau-B class, including the council-operated Southern Valleys' Irrigation Scheme, which services about 250 properties.

Preparations are being made to shut down the Gibsons Creek intake, which feeds the Southern Valleys' Irrigation Scheme, once the trigger level is reached.

The Pelorus River has 11 active consents.

In the longer term, shutoffs may extend to the Waihopai class A consents and the Awatere, which is enjoying one of its better seasons, but may still face shutoffs if the dry spell continues, Mr Taylor said.

Water consent holders should be aware of their shutoff thresholds and check flows on the council website, he said.

- The Marlborough Express

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