Investigations into a Multipurpose Dam in Tasman District-New Zealand

The Waimea Basin is located on the northern tip of the South Island of New Zealand. It is a highly productive area with intense water use with multi-stakeholder interest in water. Irrigation from the underground aquifers here makes up the largest portion of used water; however the same aquifers are also the key urban and industrial sources of water. The Waimea/Wairoa Rivers are the main sources of recharge to the underlying aquifers and also feed the costal springs that highly valued by the community and iwi. Due to the location of the main rivers and springs close to the urban centre the water resource system here has high community and aesthetic values. Recent enhanced hydrological modelling work has shown the water resources in this area to be over allocated by 22% for a 1:10 year drought security for maintaining a minimalistic flow of 250 l/s in the lower Waimea River. The current irrigated land area is about 3700 hectares with an additional potential for irrigation of 1500 hectares. Further pressures are also coming on-line with significant population growth in the region. Recent droughts have resulted in significant water use cutbacks and the threat of seawater intrusion in the coastal margins. The Waimea Water Augmentation Committee (WWAC) initiated a three year stage 1 feasibility study in 2004/2005 into the viability of water storage in the upper parts of the catchment for enhancing water availability and its security of supply for consumptive, environmental, community and aesthetic benefits downstream. The project also sought to future proof water supply needs for the Waimea Plains and the surrounding areas for a 50 - 100 year planning horizon. The broad range stage 1 investigation programme has identified the Upper Lee Catchment as being suitable for a storage structure to provide the needs identified and also a possibility for some small scale hydro electricity generation as well. The stage 2 detailed feasibility investigations that are underway now (2007/2008), and to be completed in two years is to provide all details for progressing with the next stage of obtaining necessary permits for construction and commissioning a suitable dam.