An award-winning Wairarapa vineyard is among commercial operations that could be on the line if a key lower North Island water race is closed.
By Sue Teodoro for Local Democracy Reporting
Former Wairarapa electorate MP, Alastair Scott, is the owner of Matahiwi Estate.
The well-known Masterton vineyard has won dozens of awards, but risks closure if the water it depends on is unavailable.
A decision to close the 120 year old, 25km long, Opaki water race Matahiwi and others rely on was made by Masterton District Council in 2020, with effect from June 30 this year.
The council is now considering whether to extend the closure deadline, with affected users speaking out.
The watercourse runs through more than 50 properties, including about eight commercial operations dependent on its water.
Scott chaired the Opaki water race users group, which was engaging with the council.
“The vineyard will have to close if I have no water,” Scott said.
“I can’t grow grapes without water. I can’t make a decision about next year’s crop until I know about the water race.”
Doug Lawrence has run a 14ha lifestyle block with sheep and deer for the last 40 years. The stock were dependent on the Opaki race.
“One of the reasons we bought the property was because of the water race,” he said.
“We have 50 ewes, and 15 hinds [female deer] currently, and that number is expected to grow. We also have 14 young ones this year.
“If we don’t have water we don’t have stock.”
Lawrence said he had lost stock in the past due to water shortages. He has worked on the race itself both as a council employee and as a contractor.
“It’s been basically dry since October. We are now getting to the point where there is a very serious shortage of stock water.”
He said a neighbour had a 162ha farm leased to a dairy farmer.
“Those stock can’t graze because there’s no water.”
In that instance the farmer was forced to move the dairy stock to greener pastures.
It is understood the cost to the council of closing the race could be as much as $280,000.
Karen Yates, Masterton council’s group manager strategy, said the council made the decision in 2020 – after public consultation – to close the race this June, when the current consent lapsed.
“Since, then we have been working with the users committee to help them find alternative water sources, which some have already done,” she said.
“Recent changes to the Resource Management Act have automatically extended expiry of consents to 31 December 2027. We are about to begin consultation with the users to explore their views on operating the race during this extended period.”
Not all councillors were on board with the move to close the race.
One of those opposed to its closure was councillor David Holmes, himself a farmer and an advocate of water security solutions for the everyone in the region.
“The survival of the water race is a welfare issue,” he said.
“There is absolutely no underground water there.”
Holmes said the water race needed a weir at the inlet on the Ruamahanga, which should not cost too much to build.
“That would give people constant flow from the river.”
He said if the race were closed, the council would be obliged to find an alternative source of water for the users.
Documents provided by the council said the area supplied by the race did not include natural water bodies, and the race allowed the area to be developed for grazing. It took water from the Ruamahanga River and transported it to users via an open channel.
Reasons given by the council for closure back in 2020 included legislative changes about water and land use changes in the water race area, the documents said.
“These are affecting the ability to renew the resource consent that allows the race to operate.
"Additionally, it appears that only a minority of users are reliant on the water race for stock water. Maintaining the race will require support from all current users, and it is not clear that this support exists.”
Yates said the council’s current position was to close the race in June this year and this was reflected in the council’s planning and budgeting.
“Race users have been working on alternative water sources in light of the decision made to close the race in June 2020,” she said.
“Making use of the extension of the consent has implications for the race ratepayers, including the continued levying of rates past June 2026.
“In addition, this autumn’s supply was compromised by low flows, riverbed degradation, and changes in the river channel and works would be required in the river to secure intake flows for next summer. Council has decided to consult with race ratepayers about their views on these issues.”
It is understood the council will shortly be consulting with users, after which it will consider the issue.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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