Bay Harbour: March 25, 2020

Wednesday March 25 2020
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
BAY HARBOUR
PAGE 5
News
Close watch over water
levels in Banks Peninsula
TIGHT WATER restrictions
in Akaroa, Duvauchelle and
Takamatua could soon be
lowered or removed.
Residents have been under
level 4 water restrictions – a total
ban on outdoor water use – since
early February.
The city council is closely
monitoring stream levels in
Banks Peninsula with the hopes
of being able to drop the ban.
Said city
council head
of three waters
and waste Helen
Beaumont:
“We’re currently
monitoring
stream levels
Helen
Beaumont
three times a
week in Banks
Peninsula to
check whether
the restrictions can be lowered or
removed.
“Because we have resource
consents issued to us by Environment
Canterbury, we also need
to make sure we’re not taking too
much water from streams that
are already very low.”
Ms Beaumont said unusually
extreme conditions during summer
meant the Council needed
to introduce the highest level of
restrictions in Banks Peninsula
right from the start.
“During summer, we usually
introduce a lower level of water
restrictions and only raise the
level if absolutely necessary.
“However, this summer was
different. Rainfall was lower
than average through December
and January, and then later in
January we had very hot, dry and
windy conditions for a number
of days in a row. This meant
the flows in the streams that
feed the water supplies dropped
very suddenly and significantly.
“With the same weather
forecast for some time, we
needed to take action to protect
the local water supplies and to
prevent possible breaches of our
resource consents.”
Ms Beaumont said rainfall
for the last three months
has been only a third of the
historical average and stream
KEEPING TRACK: The city
council is closely monitoring
stream levels in Akaroa,
Duvauchelle and Takamatua
with the hopes of being able to
drop restrictions.
flows are still very low in Banks
Peninsula.
“We’re very thankful for the
patience and co-operation of
residents affected by the current
water restrictions. As soon as
we can confirm we have enough
water flowing in the streams
again, we can look to lower or
remove the restrictions in Banks
Peninsula.”
Level 1 water restrictions
remain in place for Christchurch
residents.
Dog area
investigated
for Lyttelton
• By Jess Gibson
AN OLD dumpsite in Lyttelton
could become a dog walking
hotspot.
A review undertaken on a
1.37ha plot of land at 150 Old
Sumner Rd was presented to the
Banks Peninsula Community
Board at its last meeting.
When a property is no longer
required for its original purpose,
the city council often attempts to
make a decision to determine the
future use of that land.
Members requested staff to look
into the use of the land as a recreational
area which would allow
dogs, as it is something residents
have been asking for.
Staff will now investigate
likely time frames, including
information on legal access to the
property.
The community board also looked
at the future use of 306 Bayview Rd
in Diamond Harbour, which was
once used for waterworks.
• HAVE YOUR SAY:
Would you like to see the
property at 150 Old Sumner
Rd turned into a recreational
area which allows for dogs?
Email your views to -
jess.gibson@starmedia.kiwi