Latest news with #MarlboroughDistrictCouncil
Scoop
17 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
Interim Treatment Solution Found For Havelock Water Supply
Marlborough District Council will install a temporary ultraviolet (UV) treatment plant in Havelock, and once installed, lift the boil water advisory recently issued for the town. Mayor Nadine Taylor said it was great news. 'I'm very pleased to say that we now have a solution that means we'll be able to lift the boil water advisory in two months' time, rather than in three years' time.' 'It has been a difficult couple of weeks for the people of Havelock, particularly for food, hospitality and accommodation businesses. They have my sympathy and I thank them for their patience and understanding while we worked through this.' 'I'd like to acknowledge Council's Infrastructure and Services engineers for their focus on finding a temporary solution to see us through until the new water treatment plant is built.' Richard Coningham, Group Manager Infrastructure and Services, said: 'We aim to install the temporary plant within eight weeks, assuming good weather and no other issues. It requires earthworks to build a platform to support a large container housing the UV equipment, which will sit next to our existing chlorine treatment plant.' 'We also have to upgrade the power supply and Marlborough Lines has confirmed it has the equipment in stock and should be able to work within our timeframe.' 'Costs are expected to be in the range of $750K, some of which will be recoverable through the reuse of equipment for the new permanent plant to be opened in 2028.' The budget set aside in Council's Long Term Plan for Havelock's permanent plant is $14M. 'The Water Services Authority Taumata Arowai has advised that Council needs to draft a new Water Safety Plan to show how we are managing risk using the temporary treatment plant. We expect this to be completed at the same time as the plant installation, over the next eight weeks,' Mr Coningham said. 'If all goes well, we'll be able to lift the boil water advisory by mid-September. In the meantime people should continue to boil water used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and washing food. Advice on this is available on the Council website.'
Scoop
2 days ago
- Climate
- Scoop
Friendly Reminder: New Winter Grazing Rules Now In Effect
Marlborough District Council is reminding farmers that new regulations for intensive winter grazing and stock exclusion took effect on 1 July 2025. These changes follow amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater and are part of a nationwide effort to enhance freshwater health. Between May 1 and September 30, farmers must exclude cattle from all intermittent and permanent waterways (wider than one metre at any point) when grazing winter forage crops. This includes paddocks with rivers, lakes, wetlands, and modified waterways, regardless of whether water is present at the time. The two new standalone regulations for intensive winter grazing include: Maintain a five-metre planting setback from any water body or drain. Avoid cropping and grazing critical source areas with direct connection to waterways. Permanent vegetation must be maintained in these areas to assist in filtering runoff and safeguarding water quality. Council's Regional Catchment Facilitator, Nic Dann, said the regulations help minimise the impact of livestock on water bodies and wetlands. 'The Council's Catchment Care Team is here to support farmers with practical advice and resources to help meet these requirements. We encourage all landowners to review the regulations and ensure their grazing practices align with the new standards. 'Let's work together to protect Marlborough's waterways for future generations.'
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Marlborough Mayor ‘Disappointed' By Sounds Air Cuts
Marlborough mayor Nadine Taylor says the loss of some critical Sounds Air routes and reduction of its fleet is a sad day for the region. Sounds Air announced on Monday they would be selling their fleet of Pilatus PC12 aircraft and axing their Blenheim to Christchurch and Christchurch to Wānaka routes from September 28. Ten staff would be made redundant. Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford said he was devastated, but the company could not contend with mounting costs and a weak New Zealand dollar. 'It will mean the loss of a number of our dedicated and skilled staff, but we are also hugely disappointed for our incredibly loyal customer base who rely on us to get around New Zealand not only for tourism and leisure purposes but also for regional access to critical healthcare and higher education, and to do business that contributes to New Zealand's regional economies,' Crawford said. Taylor said that Marlborough Airport, a subsidiary of the Marlborough District Council, had been working with the airline to navigate through challenging times. 'It is disappointing and sad for Marlborough to lose the Blenheim to Christchurch route. This service was particularly important as it provided a vital air link for Marlborough people to get to specialist treatment in Christchurch,' Taylor said. 'There is no other option to fly direct from Blenheim to Christchurch – this is now a four-hour drive. 'That is going to put additional pressure and stress on those who are already at their most vulnerable.' Taylor said she was frustrated that Sounds Air did not receive any government support, given the company contributed to regional connectivity, tourism, and economic growth. 'There is often talk of the regions being our country's powerhouses to be that, we need infrastructure, services, and connectivity,' Taylor said. 'If regions are to grow in the manner central Government wants, investment in this space is warranted and indeed necessary.' Destination Marlborough general manager Tracey Green said the loss of a direct connection to Christchurch was a 'significant blow'. 'Recent challenges with Air New Zealand and ferry services have compromised our connectivity,' Green said. 'These are tough economic times for everyone and Sounds Air has been a strong strategic partner for Marlborough, connecting our region with two of our main domestic markets, Christchurch and Wellington. 'The full impact of this loss in connectivity may not be immediately clear, but it's a real shame this is happening just ahead of the summer season, when we rely on those connections the most.' The airline's challenges came to light during Covid, and it had continued to struggle over the past five years. Crawford said a Pilatus engine that cost US$850,000 (NZ$1.42 million) just a few months ago was now being quoted at US$1.4m (NZ$2.3m), and the passenger safety levy from the Civil Aviation Authority rose 145%. A PC12 aircraft was recently sold to help ease the financial burden, and last year Sounds Air axed its Wellington to Taupō and Wellington to Westport routes. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Havelock Residents Relieved By Drinking Water U-Turn
Havelock residents are welcoming the Marlborough District Council's investigation into a temporary ultraviolet treatment system for Havelock's drinking water supply. Locals were blindsided last week when the council issued a boil water notice after updated guidance from water regulator Taumata Arowai, due to the risk of protozoa which could cause sickness. The notice would likely last until a new $14 million treatment plant opened in 2028, the council said last week. While the risk of protozoa had not changed, requirements under the Water Services Act 2021 had become more stringent, requiring multiple barriers, the council said. Havelock's current plant only used chlorine, whereas the planned plant would use chlorine, ultraviolet (UV) and filtration. Since the notice was issued, residents and business owners were considering spending thousands on buying their own UV treatment systems, rather than boil water for three years. But on Monday, the council's infrastructure and services general manager Richard Coningham said the council was looking into whether a temporary solution could be found, so the boil water notice could be lifted in a matter of weeks or months. 'We are working through a number of options and council engineers want to determine whether we have a workable solution by the end of this week,' Coningham said. The council was in talks with a number of parties, including local businesses, he said. 'In the meantime I suggest residents and businesses in Havelock hold off and do not invest in their own UV treatment system until council has assessed these options. 'They should also continue to boil their water for now.' The council would not describe what options they were exploring, but said residents could expect an update on the situation no later than Friday. Mills Bay Mussels business development manager Carlie Verhoef said she welcomed the news. 'It would be great, I think it would be the right thing for [council] to do, provided people [are paying] for water that's not drinkable,' Verhoef said. Verhoef said that they had already decided to hold off on purchasing their own UV water treatment system, in the hopes that the council would step in. 'I guess when they're getting pressure put on them, they'll make the move, so hopefully we won't need to.' Havelock bed and breakfast owner Kelly Ellis said she was puzzled by the council's sudden U-turn towards looking at a temporary UV treatment option. 'I'd like to know what's changed and why we were told that it couldn't be done, and then within a few days, told that there is a possible solution. 'I'm concerned about the lack of transparency here.' She said she spoke to a council water engineer in town on Friday who said there was nothing they could do. 'We were told it can't happen,' Ellis said. '[They said] 'we've got no land, we've got no building, and it can't be done'. 'We need people who say 'this can be done', rather than people who say we can't.' Ellis said she also spoke to Kaikōura MP, National's Stuart Smith on Friday. '[He] basically was apologising on behalf of the council,' Ellis said. 'I said to him, 'start representing your constituents rather than the council'. If the council was caught off guard by the notice, they should have fought back against Taumata Arowai and sought an injunction against the notice, she said. 'On the other hand, [Taumata Arowai] might say 'we've been telling these people down in Marlborough for years that they needed to sort this stuff out ... and [council have] dragged the chain shamefully'.' Smith said Taumata Arowai's decision to ask the council to issue the boil water notice was a long time coming, and not easily reversed. The council could bulk buy UV treatment systems and provide them on an individual basis, he said. 'I asked them to use their ability to borrow at a lower rate [to buy the UV systems] and have that added to [targeted] rates.' Further information and frequently asked questions could be found on the council website.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Havelock residents told to boil water as council seeks solution
Photo: AFP The Marlborough District Council is considering temporarily treating Havelock's water supply with ultraviolet light after the regulator issued a boil water notice. Taumata Arowai issued the notice last Wednesday as a precautionary measure due to the risk of parasitic contamination. A new treatment plant was due to be completed by 2028, however, if a temporary solution was found the notice could be lifted well ahead of that date. Council assets and services manager Richard Coningham said the risk of contamination in Havelock had not changed, but the drinking water requirements in the Water Services Act 2021 were more stringent. Water supplies in New Zealand required a multi-barrier approach - a range of processes, procedures and tools to protect and treat water. "Although chlorine is used in the Havelock supply, it doesn't protect from the risk - however small - of protozoa getting into the supply," Coningham said. Protozoa are single-celled parasites, like cryptosporidium and giardia, that make can make people sick. They can be removed from water with filters or inactivated using UV light so they do not pose a health risk. People in Havelock were being told to boil water used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and washing food. Coningham said the council was working through a number of options and planned to have a solution by the end of the week. The new $14 million water treatment plant planned for Havelock would use a multi-barrier approach, including filtration, chlorine and UV. "The plant upgrade has been planned for some years and budget is set aside in the council's Long Term Plan. However it has been difficult to secure a new site, with few land options available in the town or nearby," Coningham said. The council had now found a site and was planning and designing a new treatment plant, for completion in early 2028. Land purchase negotiations were in the final stages and a new road would be built to provide access. Construction tendering would follow.
