Lowe's Lake set to be filled next year after Hastings District Council stormwater decision

Lowe's Lake is likely to be filled next year. Photo / Paul Taylor

Hastings councillors have agreed to proposed stormwater changes that will likely spell the end of Lowe's Lake.

At a council meeting on Tuesday, Hastings District Council agreed in principle to a series of stormwater changes proposed by the Hawke's Bay Regional Council.

A key proposed change is filling in Lowe's Lake, a man-made lake in Hastings' industrial area which has previously tested for high levels of E. coli and is within a 1km radius of 13 bores used for food processing, irrigation and drinking water supplies.

The fate of the lake will be decided in the new year but is "likely it will be filled", a council spokeswoman said.

The lake is part of the Heretaunga unconfined aquifer and is within the Frimley bore source protection zone.

An independent Tonkin and Taylor report found there is very low risk to the Frimley bore field from Lowe's Lake.

A budget of $2m has been proposed for the district council to carry out the work.

Other ideas include a focus of "on property controls" in the industrial catchment which currently has stormwater flow into the lake.

These include adding stormwater treatment devices at the end of pipes to contain and remove contaminants such as spills, road runoff and overland flows which may enter the water.

Tightening of rules regarding industrial activity is also part of this.

Hastings councillor Damon Harvey said he was pleased that the lake is to be filled because it was one of his key objectives in his recent mayoral campaign.

"I'm pleased that I raised the issue on behalf of the community and that we now have a way forward that protects our valuable drinking water sources."

He said plans were still being put in place but he looked forward to further detail on how the lake will be decommissioned as well as future treatment options in the area for stormwater.