Waikato Regional Council calls urgent summit to discuss Waikato River

A number of industry leaders have been invited to the summit that is taking place in Hamilton on Wednesday. Photo / File

Waikato Regional Council's chair has called an urgent summit to find pragmatic place-based solutions to Auckland's water crisis, while also protecting the Waikato River.

The water summit will take place this Wednesday in Hamilton, with leaders invited from the Waikato River Authority, Waikato-Tainui, Auckland Council and Watercare, as well as Environment Minister David Parker.

"The purpose of the meeting is not to relitigate history, but to find a positive pathway to avert Auckland's water supply crisis," says Waikato Regional Council chair Russ Rimmington.

"We had constructive talks earlier this month with Auckland Council and Watercare, and we agreed a collective meeting was needed. I am concerned that, since this agreement was reached, central government has been asked by Auckland Council to find solutions without us having had the opportunity to collectively meet to find solutions ourselves.

"It is my experience that place-based solutions are always more durable and sustainable.

"That's why I have called for this urgent meeting in Hamilton – to find pragmatic solutions that also protect the Waikato River now and into the future."

The key to easing the water supply pressure is the most recent application from
Watercare for 100 million litres per day, to be taken during high winter flows.

"With this 100 million litres per day, there can be more reliance on the Waikato River and in turn the use of the reservoirs can ease over winter, enabling the dams time to recover ahead of the high-demand summer months. This would increase Auckland's resilience," says Mr Rimmington.

"Of course, the infrastructure for the extra 100 million litres per day still needs to be built by Watercare."

Council chief executive Vaughan Payne said processing of that application, lodged only last month, had been put on hold with Watercare's agreement while it consults with mana whenua.

"But my staff have indicated that the application fits within the allocatable flow and Watercare look to have made a reasonable case for the need," he said.

"We're a solutions-based organisation, so my staff have also been encouraging more water-sharing between consent holders and applicants – a common solution regularly employed in the Waikato."

The 2013 application from Watercare, seeking to take 200 million litres per day from the Waikato River year-round, is intended to meet population growth needs in 2030.

"The nature of the first in-first served process is that it does take time to move through the queue. But my regulatory staff have been doing what they legally can to reduce the amount of water being demanded by all 300-plus applicants, including Watercare. If we're successful, it may remove the need for the queue," says Vaughan.

"Watercare, as the applicant, have not asked for their 2013 application to be fast-tracked. The application states it is for future needs, not for current needs. This has been confirmed by recent discussions between my staff and staff from Watercare.

"The last thing we want is to allocate a large amount of water to Watercare that isn't currently needed. This could tie up the water for about a decade, preventing Waikato Regional Council from allocating it to others who actually need it. I do not support water banking."