Wellington region GIVES AWAY water as it faces a shortage

To say I am angry would be an absolute understatement.

I have been on about the damage to the Wellington region's water for several years on this blog and on my Facebook page, Hutt River in Crisis

I have had no interest in any of my research and organisations like the Friends of the Hutt River have been asleep at the wheel and thus shown themselves to be anything BUT "friends" of the river.

I may have been pissing into the wind.

Now, it turns out that not only are we in great danger from abrupt climate change and drought and now it turns out WE ARE GIVING THE STUFF AWAY!

Having been ignored for so long it is now my turn to be silent.

Hutt River's water wasted as bottled water, but council says its hands are tied

Stuff.co,nz,

8 August, 2019

Bottled water giants have the power to take Hutt River water and ship it overseas under resource consent.

Bottled water giants could be sucking the Hutt River dry, residents fear.

A consent granted to a water company in 2013 is concerning residents who've pleaded with the Greater Wellington Regional Council to stop wasting their water.

Upper Hutt resident Tracey Ultra told councillors on Thursday the way Heretaunga Water Ltd was consented should not be legal.

A resource consent granted to Heretaunga Water Ltd in 2013 could be extended for another 30 years.

ROSA WOODS

A resource consent granted to Heretaunga Water Ltd in 2013 could be extended for another 30 years.

"Prioritise local businesses who are using the water locally, ban single-use plastic bottles and ensure that new consent applications are publicly notified."

The discussion at the council's environment committee follows the company's water bottling consent slipping under the radar, with no public notification.

The discussion follows the discovery the company's water bottling consent in Upper Hutt went under the radar without public notification.

ROSA WOODS/STUFF

The discussion follows the discovery the company's water bottling consent in Upper Hutt went under the radar without public notification.

Ultra has created a petition of 8000 signatures to revoke the consent and was one of many to speak to councillors on Thursday.

Hutt Valley people were becoming angry about the taking of the water, which could encourage water shortages, she said.

"The condition of the river, it is struggling, like really struggling. In the summer you can't take dogs or children there," she said.

Upper Hutt resident Tracey Ultra told councillors on Thursday the consent, without public notification, was underhanded.

COLIN WILLIAMS/STUFF

"The river's not swimmable anymore in the peak of summer."

The consent, granted six years ago to Heretaunga Water Ltd (owned by International Springs Ltd), allows up to 180 million litres of water to be drawn from the ground each year for water bottling.

A report provided to councillors says previous water-taking limits were set before climate change was accounted for.

Some councillors said the latest science and environmental effects on the river could be sound ground to reconsider the consent.

However, council environmental regulation manager Alistair Cross said current legislation wouldn't allow them to do so.

"It doesn't allow us to restrict the nature of use, but it does allow us to ensure that the best methods and technology are used."

The river is no longer suitable for dogs or children in the summer, residents have warned.

LUCY DOIG/SUPPLIED

The river is no longer suitable for dogs or children in the summer, residents have warned.

Councillor David Ogden said with a forecast population boost of 80,000 people in the next 30 years, more value would be placed on water.

"[If] we're pushing the aquifer ... that's the end of it as far as I am concerned. Stop doing it."

Environment committee chairwoman Sue Kedgley said their options were limited. "We've got all these powers but we can't use them."

Kedgley asked for officers to prepare a report outlining options to be considered at the next meeting.

Limiting the term length of water consents and to consider policy around notifying the consents needed to be considered, Kedgley said.

A director of the company said he didn't want to comment.

Heretaunga Water Ltd's current consent is valid to 2023 and is one of three approved consents for water bottling in the Wellington region.

Sign the petition HERE

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