The Waimea Community Dam eases water restrictions

It is exciting to see the positive impact of the Waimea Community Dam on water availability at a crucial time in the growing season.

The reservoir, Te Kurawai o Puhanga, reached full capacity and the spillway commenced flowing on 21 January 2024. Engineering verification and the final hold point was subsequently completed on 31 January 2024.

With a supporting rain forecast (that did not materialise), WWL made the decision on 31 January 2024 to proceed with removing the temporary facilities and transition to the permanent pipe to enable final commissioning. During this transition, no water could be released from the reservoir other than for natural inflows over the spillway.

The transition to the permanent facilities was hampered by a forest fire on the publicroad (Lee Valley Road) that shut down site for almost three days.

The remaining connection between intake pipes was welded and completed on 27 February 2024. Testing confirmed the connection met specifications and water was released from a smaller valve on 2 March 2024. This release provided sufficient river flow for water restrictions in the zone of effect to be removed on 4 March 2024.

It is clear that the Waimea Community Dam has already had a significant positive economic impact on businesses in the zone of effect and wider region, and we look forward to the certainty and resilience the facility will provide in the future.

Waimea Community Dam significant milestone reached

Over the weekend the Waimea Community Dam achieved a significant milestone with the dam reaching full operating level and beginning to spill over the spillway. This is an exciting and historic achievement for all the involved in the project.

The practical implication of this milestone is that Waimea Water Limited has met regulatory and commissioning requirements and can now make final engineering changes to allow the dam to be fully operational. These engineering changes will take a number of weeks and without a high likelihood of meeting minimum flow requirements from supply over the spillway it is likely that they will be made at the end of the summer. This approach will allow Waimea Water Limited to continue to maintain minimum flows and ensure affiliated permit holders do not face water restrictions.

Waimea Community Dam ready for spring rainfall

Testing at the Waimea Community Dam has been progressing through the winter, and Waimea Water Ltd expects to commence filling the reservoir imminently, now that the sealing concrete plug and isolating valve have been installed.

The dam, a public private partnership between the Tasman District Council and Waimea Irrigators, is the first large dam to be constructed in New Zealand in 25 years. The reservoir will hold 13 million cubic metres of water to provide water security to the region.

Over July and August, the reservoir was managed to a very low water level to allow the isolating valve to be installed.

Waimea Water Ltd CEO Mike Scott said the dam is performing as expected and any teething issues are being addressed.

“It is early days, and we will assess and verify dam performance as we fill the reservoir in stages,” Scott said. “Speculation about there being issues with the dam are unfounded. We are comfortable with how the dam is performing. It is doing what we expected and contemplated, and we are executing our commissioning plans.”

The reservoir will be filled in stages by keeping the water level at hold points for extended periods to allow for testing and engineering measurements. When it rains there will be times when water will need to be released to return the reservoir to a set level, and then when ready, the reservoir level will be built up to the next hold point.

“What we most need now is average rainfalls in the dam’s catchment area. It has been very dry recently, but based on advice we are optimistic about the spring weather. With sufficient rainfall we expect to provide water to shareholders and the community this summer,” he said.

“By having the reservoir full and dam commissioned by December, we can provide our shareholders and community with confidence ahead of the forecasted windy and dry El Nino summer.”

WIL 2022 AGM Minutes now online

Waimea Irrigators Ltd held its Annual General Meeting in Appleby on Wednesday 14 December 2022. Many thanks to the WIL shareholders who attended the session.

We have made the AGM minutes, which summarise the session's main topics, available online here.

Items from the AGM of note:

  • Julian Raine was re-elected as director of the Company.

  • Waimea Water Limited CEO Mike Scott provided a progress report on the construction of the Waimea Community Dam, noting the ongoing impact of inflation and Covid-19 on construction. The dam is now completed, with temporary mechanical works being installed over summer, and commissioning planned in spring 2023.

  • Findex presented financial takeaways from the Annual Report.

Click here to read the 14 December 2022 AGM Minutes.

Media Release: WIL disappointed at Waimea Dam cost increase

Waimea Irrigators Ltd (WIL) says the organisation is disappointed that the Waimea Community Dam’s construction costs have increased.

Waimea Water Ltd (WWL) today announced that the forecast cost for the build of the Waimea Community Dam has increased on its last year forecast, primarily due to COVID-19, design changes that have been made due to geology and improved resilience, and elements that were underbudgeted.

 

Receive News

Copyright 2017 Waimea Irrigators Ltd.

Website by UpShift