River recharge scheme gets top rating from regional council
The Council’s river recharge scheme has been given the highest rating for compliance by the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC).
The GWRC compliance report called the Council’s management of the scheme “outstanding” and the team involved “committed”.
In the report, GWRC identified a number of key milestones that were achieved including completion and certification of conditions required to operate the scheme; completion of 2014/15 baseline monitoring; working with iwi, GWRC and key stakeholders; and the upgrade of the Waikanae Water Treatment Plant where the recharge occurs.
“We’re delighted to have been given the top rating for compliance,” says Mayor Ross Church. “A great deal of work went into constructing the scheme and ensuring we continue to provide safe drinking water to the community while protecting the environment.”
Compliance assessments are carried out annually. The river recharge scheme was given a green four-star rating which means the scheme complies and has been managed with excellence; Council has been proactive in meeting consent requirements; if issues arose concerning consent conditions, Council responded promptly and effectively; and no further action was required for this compliance report - Council should keep complying with the scheme’s consent conditions.
Since it was completed in June 2015, the scheme has been used successfully a number of times - last October when there was a rapid drop in river levels and on and off from mid-March during the hot, dry summer.
Full statement from the GWRC compliance report:
“It has been another outstanding year for KCDC in the ongoing management of these consents. It is clear KCDC and the wider team involved in this project remain committed to quality and timely delivery against all consent conditions. Your communication with GWRC has meant we have collectively been able to deal with matters of environmental risk and ensure public trust and confidence in the project is maintained.”