Two new reports about the Methven Auxiliary water race network have been published on Council’s website, as part of the stockwater exit transition work programme.

One report was prepared by Beca and is an ecological snapshot of the network, and the other is a manawhenua assessment by Aoraki Environmental Consultancy.

Council is considering the future of 17 intakes as part of work to exit its stockwater delivery service, as decided in the Long Term Plan 2024-34.

Property owners who pay for stockwater from the Clearwell Springs intake are currently being canvassed by Council about whether they have alternative water sources if the intake were to close.

The water users have been asked to take part in a private survey and have been sent documents in the post, with a deadline for feedback of 14 October.

The wider public will then have a chance to give feedback via an online survey.

Water users on the Langdons Creek North and South intake are also being canvassed by Council about their future use of the race. They were asked to give feedback by 26 September but this has been extended to 14 October.

The wider public can now also share their thoughts on this intake online.

Group Manager of Infrastructure and Open Spaces Neil McCann said that the wider public would also be able to take part in an online survey about Clearwell Springs intake later this month.

“Right now though, it’s important that we hear from those who pay for stockwater from the Langdons Creek and Clearwell Springs intakes and I encourage property owners who received letters to let us know their thoughts sooner rather than later.”

Stockwater users who don’t respond to Council surveys when their intake is under consideration will be contacted by a contractor helping Council with the work.

Mr McCann said key reports generated in the intake assessments completed so far were available to the public on Council’s website.

“We’ve added another two reports recently and people can read them and learn more about the stockwater network in the Methven area. We know Council’s decision to exit its stockwater service by 2027 will result in changes for some of our current users and we want them to be as informed as possible.

“We are continuing our discussions with BCI as an alternate supplier for both Pudding Hill and the Methven Auxiliary races and hope to have an agreement on paper soon.”

The future of each intake will be decided by Councillors, who will decide after the Local Elections how information about the stockwater exit is brought to them for consideration.