Granting a challenging consent for water

Water for the townships of Matatoki, Omahu and Hikutaia in the Coromandel region is sourced from two small streams (Matatoki Stream and the Omahu Stream) located in the hinterland behind the townships. The majority of the water supplied is used for stock (predominately dairy) in the area with a smaller portion used for domestic supply. The schemes were originally developed in the 1930’s and 1950’s by the local farmers in the area for farm water supply and then taken over by Thames Coromandel District Council in the 1970’s. Thames Coromandel District Council sought a renewal of the water take consents for these schemes and applied to the Waikato Regional Council for consent.

Waikato Regional Council opposed the granting of the consents due the volume requested and the effect the take was having on the stream. The proposed takes formed a significant portion (up to 100 percent at times) of the 5 year low flow for each stream, which doesn’t meet the requirements of new Waikato Regional Council policy (Variation 6). In addition to this, a study undertaken by Environment Waikato in 2008 had indicated (particularly for Matatoki) that the takes were having adverse environmental effects during the summer low flow conditions. The take rate requested and the current effects on the environment from the takes made it challenging for Waikato Regional Council to be able to justify granting the consent.

Community support for the proposal was mixed with the majority of the community unwilling to pay for a new/alternative supply, but supportive of any moves to reduce the environmental impact of the takes. The community is highly reliant on the water supply for their economic wellbeing so any reduction in the takes, to a level that only supply domestic demand, would mean significant financial hardship for those currently serviced by the scheme.

The continued supply of the water at existing volumes and rates of take for the period sought by Thames Coromandel District Council was vital to the viability and wellbeing of the communities. Consideration of alternatives to the takes was undertaken but there was insufficient funding available from rates for this to occur immediately and complicating this is that water use is currently treated at point of entry to the properties, and the current New Zealand Drinking Water Standards does not provide for this. There is provision for a Rural Drinking Water classification to be included in the standards, but details of the provisions and implementation date are unknown, thus it is difficult to develop an alternative based on a Rural Classification that is yet to be defined. Given the financial difficulties in a community with a small rating base, Thames Coromandel District Council struggled to balance the environmental impacts of the take (which have been occurring unchanged for the last 50 plus years) against economic impacts of alternatives.

Given the positions of both Waikato Regional Council and Thames Coromandel District Council this paper will discuss how consent was granted to the satisfaction of both parties, with environmental effects from the proposal minimised.