Council is progressing work on a transition plan to exit its stockwater delivery service.

The plan will include an intake-by-intake closure strategy, with scheduled engagement with property owners, irrigation companies, Environment Canterbury and Arowhenua and other stakeholders.

Group Manager of Infrastructure and Open Spaces Neil McCann said Council had a blueprint for closing some intakes.

“We’ve been working through a process to close the Pudding Hill intake and we believe the methodical approach we are using can be applied to other intakes.

“The stockwater network is fed by many sources, including springs, the north and south branch of the Ashburton River, Pudding Hill Stream and the Rangitata River, via the Rangitata Diversion Race.

“We know it will be a complicated process, as some stockwater races are also stormwater drains, some are fed by springs and some flow into places like the Tinwald Domain and Ashburton Domain ponds. It will take time and flexibility will be required, and we will do our best to keep everyone informed and included along the way.”

The transition plan is being prepared by Council staff and should be adopted by Council at its meeting on 18 December. Meetings of the working group set up to monitor progress will be held over the next few weeks to review the draft Transition Plan before recommending adoption by Council in December.

“We know that some in the wider community are as interested in the stockwater system as those who pay targeted stockwater rates,” Mr McCann said. “We have a core membership of the working group, and stakeholders will be invited to join in as appropriate.”

Some of the work under way at the moment is scheduling the intakes in an order of priority so that the timeframes will be clearer for those who currently use the stock water system. This will clearly identify when we will engage with property owners and stakeholders for each area.

Council committed to exiting the stockwater delivery service as part of the Long Term Plan 2024-34 and has set a target date of June 2027. It does not mean all races and intakes will be closed, as some may need to be retained for various reasons including ecological, drainage and cultural reasons.

Part of the Council’s decision to exit the service was also because it would need to install expensive fish screens at the intakes. Council has been progressively closing races over the past decade, where property owners agree, and will continue to process closure applications during the transition period.

Mr McCann said the Pudding Hill closure investigation had been a good learning experience for Council and property owners.

“We have been using the services of John Wright, who knows a great deal about water in this district, and in some cases alternative water can be accessed through a simple rain storage tank system or from an irrigation company with pipes in the area.

“Council will not pay for alternative water options on individual properties, but it can provide some good information when the time comes.”

Information and regular updates about progress of the stockwater transition plan will be posted on Council’s website, and interested parties can also sign up to receive a stockwater newsletter by email.