Milestone reached on land purchase for a dam

A significant milestone has been reached on the purchase of land for a dam that will future-proof the water supply for Waikanae, Paraparaumu and Raumati residents.

“I am very pleased to announce that agreement in principle has been reached with Ikaham Holdings Ltd for 91.69 hectares of land on the Maungakotukutuku Stream behind Nikau Valley,” said Mayor Jenny Rowan.

“The agreement is still conditional on Council getting Department of Conservation agreement over changes to the covenant covering part of the block. However, discussions with DOC are going well.” 

There are three land owners in the area. The biggest land owner is Ikaham Holdings. The other two are Kaitawa Forest Ltd and Greater Wellington Regional Council. Mayor Rowan said negotiations with the other two land owners were continuing.

Details, including the purchase price, will remain confidential till all land purchase negotiations are completed.

Council last year said its preferred solution for providing dependable good quality water to Waikanae, Paraparaumu and Raumati for the next 50 years was to recharge the Waikanae River in times of drought using groundwater from Waikanae bores.

The second was to buy land for a future storage dam in the Maungakotukutuku Valley.

“Council has agreed on the Ikaham Holdings land purchase price conditional on agreement being reached on the covenant.” This is a very significant step forward which will eventually provide a dependable supply of water to residents in Waikanae, Paraparaumu and Raumati for the next 100 years, said Mayor Rowan.

The long term plan for the Maungakotukutuku Stream is for a 31 metre high dam which will create a 1.9 million cubic metre lake.