Latest news with #borewater
RNZ News
01-08-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Lack of planning led to Kaitāia's aquifer project budget blow-out and delays, review finds
Work gets underway in 2020 on a pipeline bringing bore water to Kaitāia's water treatment plant. Photo: Peter de Graaf A report on a Kaitāia water project that took 14 years instead of five and cost millions of dollars more than expected has found a lack of planning was one of the key reasons for the project's troubles. In 2011 the Far North District Council, under the former mayor, decided to drill two bores into the Sweetwater aquifer north of Kaitāia to stop the town running out of water during its frequent summer droughts. However, bore water only started flowing through the town's taps early this year, prompting councillor Mate Radich to call for a judicial review. Radich had also become frustrated by being unable to establish the project's total cost. In May this year, councillors voted to seek an internal review instead, given the high cost of a judicial review. The report, presented at Thursday's council meeting in Kaikohe, finally provided a definitive project cost of $18,016,070. Of that, just $2.4 million was spent developing the initial bore site from 2011-17. The bulk of the money, $14.9m, was spent on bore improvements and pipeline construction between 2020 and 2024. A significant part of that, just under $2.5m, went on "access costs" including land purchase ($250,000) and easements/compensation payments to landowners ($1.63m). Another $708,000 was spent this year on a membrane bio-reactor treatment trial, when it became apparent Kaitāia's existing treatment plant was unsuited to the silica-rich water from the aquifer. The town's water is usually drawn from the drought-sensitive Awanui River. The money came from rates and reserves ($3.3m), loans ($11.7m) and external grants ($3m, mostly from the Provincial Growth Fund). The report found the key reason for the delays was "the absence of a single, over-arching project plan". The project lacked a proper business case, which would have identified all the components required, provided an overview of the expected cost and delivery timeframe, and established key milestones for reporting and decision making. Failing to engage early with affected property owners and mana whenua forced re-designs and cost time, while the use of external project managers increased the expense. The report also found delays resulted from inadequate asset management and the "stop-start effect" caused by staff turnover. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
10-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Bore water near Christchurch Men's Prison returns clear results after diesel leak
Some neighbouring properties had been told to stop using water from their private bores. Photo: Luke McPake / The Wireless Corrections says further testing of bore water near Christchurch Men's Prison after a diesel leak has returned clear results. It comes after about 14,000 litres of diesel leached into the ground at the prison on May 24 after the hatch of a fuel tank was left open, potentially affecting the water supplies of neighbouring properties. Corrections custodial services commissioner Leigh Marsh said a sample taken from outside the prison on June 6 returned a clear result on Tuesday. A sample taken from 200 metres outside the prison perimeter on May 28 tested positive for dissolved hydrocarbon and Corrections visited 40 properties to determine who was affected. Eight affected neighbouring properties had been told to stop using water from their private bores for drinking, cooking or feeding stock or animals and use water from other sources until the potential contamination was addressed. It remained safe for showering and washing. Marsh said that advice from the National Public Health Service regarding water use had not changed. "The sample taken from the same site on 28 May remains the only positive result from our testing. While this is a good sign, we are still taking a cautious approach and testing will continue." Marsh said neighbouring residents would be kept informed of test results and it would ensure that they had the water they needed. Corrections was now working through an updated testing and monitoring plan, with additional bores being drilled on site, and additional testing sites included in its plan. Results from these tests would help to determine the next steps as it worked with the National Public Health Service to understand when we can see a safe return to normal. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
06-06-2025
- RNZ News
Residents told to stop using bore water after diesel leak at Christchurch prison
A diesel leak at Christchurch Men's Prison late last month has seeped into bore water 200 metres away. Photo: NZME / George Heard Some residents in the small town of Templeton on the outskirts of Christchurch are now being told not to use their private bore water after a diesel leak at the nearby prison nearly two weeks ago. Corrections said a "significant amount" of diesel leaked from a fuel tank at Christchurch Men's Prison and seeped into the ground below one of its buildings on 25 May. Experts immediately began testing nearby bores and results had been negative for "dissolved hydrocarbons", but on Friday there was a positive result from a bore about 200 metres away from the prison grounds, according to Leigh Marsh, Corrections' custodial services commissioner. "As a result, we have visited approximately 40 properties - by door-knocking and leaving a letter with further information - and have advised a small number of occupied properties that they should stop using water from their private bores, and use water from other sources," Marsh said. "Corrections will be working with these residents directly to provide an alternate source if they do not already have one." The affected properties had bores down gradient from where the diesel entered the ground, Marsh said. "If a property has not been visited by Corrections, or had a letter left in their absence, they are able to continue using their bore water. "This does not impact residents in the area on town water supply and it does not impact anyone in the wider Christchurch area." People living in affected properties should avoid drinking and cooking with the water, Marsh said. The department was conducting further testing to confirm the positive result, and would keep affected neighbours updated. At the time of the diesel leak, it notified key agencies including Environment Canterbury, Taumata Arowai and Fire and Emergency New Zealand. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
06-06-2025
- RNZ News
Diesel leak at Christchurch prison forces nearby residents to stop using bore water
A diesel leak at Christchurch Men's Prison late last month has seeped into bore water 200 metres away. Photo: NZME / George Heard Some residents in the small town of Templeton on the outskirts of Christchurch are now being told not to use their private bore water after a diesel leak at the nearby prison nearly two weeks ago. Corrections said a "significant amount" of diesel leaked from a fuel tank at Christchurch Men's Prison and seeped into the ground below one of its buildings on 25 May. Experts immediately began testing nearby bores and results had been negative for "dissolved hydrocarbons", but on Friday there was a positive result from a bore about 200 metres away from the prison grounds, according to Leigh Marsh, Corrections' custodial services commissioner. "As a result, we have visited approximately 40 properties - by door-knocking and leaving a letter with further information - and have advised a small number of occupied properties that they should stop using water from their private bores, and use water from other sources," Marsh said. "Corrections will be working with these residents directly to provide an alternate source if they do not already have one." The affected properties had bores down gradient from where the diesel entered the ground, Marsh said. "If a property has not been visited by Corrections, or had a letter left in their absence, they are able to continue using their bore water. "This does not impact residents in the area on town water supply and it does not impact anyone in the wider Christchurch area." People living in affected properties should avoid drinking and cooking with the water, Marsh said. The department was conducting further testing to confirm the positive result, and would keep affected neighbours updated. At the time of the diesel leak, it notified key agencies including Environment Canterbury, Taumata Arowai and Fire and Emergency New Zealand. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
