My knowledge of the classics or fine literary effort has unfortunately always been limited to précis formats that allow me to digest the author’s basic message before I fall asleep.
Consequently, even during periods when I have time on my hands, my attention span restricts my readings to publications like this one that don’t require an injection of some sort of stimulus that keeps me awake and interested.
My wife has threatened the use of a farm tool called a “bull prodder” but I am not brave enough to consider going to such extreme lengths just to stay awake.
Whatever, I am able to watch the daily News and Channel TV programmes which provide a summary of world events that are the background to the News.
Recent coverage of the Queensland floods as a result of Cyclone Alfred provide an insight into what happens when scant attention is paid to construction of water storage capacity that in turn provides security for fresh water users in times of drought.
It beggars belief that Central and Local Governments both here and in Australia have repeatedly avoided the decision to plan for a major shortfall in their respective reliable fresh water supply capacity.
The consequences of poor decision making becomes even more acute when you consider the benefits associated with decent planning.- eg. providing an opportunity for killing two birds with one stone - ie: The building of large fresh water storage facilities can also double as a generator of energy to cover periods of peak power load
It is no secret that during an average year, most of the fresh water that falls as rain in the hinterland, is wasted as it flows towards its inevitable destination - the sea.
What little is diverted to water storage facilities is used by industry or a thirsty public almost as quickly as it falls from the sky.
Unfortunately, the building of large fresh water reservoirs sufficent to meet demand at all times has been a low priority amongst planners at all levels for too long.
One has to ask why this is so.
It looks as if we are in for a long wait until a lightbulb explodes in the minds of those with the responsibility for making it happen.
My own experience trying to get local Council to put the building of enough reliable, storage facilities in our drought prone region on the long term plan is an indication
of its reluctance to accept reality.
I have fought a battle over this issue for the last 40 years yet have only recently succeeded in getting them to listen to reason .
Sadly, my ideas, even if adopted, will only become reality long after I am gone.
For regions like ours, it should be the highest priority.
At least the current Government is committed to providing the development funds to Councils who want to follow this path providing the water security we need.
That’s a good start but unless the local planners and elected councillors see this issue as equally important to the billions they are spending on DEI programmes, nothing proactive will be done in order to save us from ourselves
Go figure.
5 comments:
Is it the job of councils to build dams?
The Central Otago , Manuherikea river is a direct case in point where countless meetings for water storage have been thwarted by Otago Regional Council. It is common sense that the farm upward on the river would retain the water for the next farm below and so on to the confluence with the Clutha .
Similarly the magnificent inland lake of Tekapo and others could be raised a metre at the generating dam as they are self contained lakes. The value is multiplied as the water is reused for generation many times as it travels to the sea . Just Common sense .
Historically, local fresh water supply reservoirs have been built as a joint venture between Local Government with help from Central Government by way of low interest loans or even grants if the project can’t be funded from rates.
However, these days with climate change forcing the issue, the cost of building adequate storage facilities becomes a task that is beyond the scope of local funding in almost any form.
If we look at the partnerships that have successfully completed large infrastructure fresh water projects that include reticulated systems that service arable land growing high quality export crops, eg. The Waimea Dam in Marlborough, the bulk of funding came from Central Government or its agencies.
Given the huge cost of the regional projects, it is most unlikely that they will be completed without a large injection of State funds - either by way of cheap long term loans or direct grants.
In our Tairawhiti district, a proposal is being investigated that has the capacity to turn this low decile region into one of the most affluent ( per head of population ) in the country but the project itself will cost hundreds of millions to fund and will take years to build.
So, the idea may have economic merit but whether the local community and Central Government maintain the will to see it through remains a question no one appears willing to answer so early in the design stage.
There is no question that it should happen - the only question is whether there are people out there with the strength of character required to ensure its completion. Waimea has proved that there are but my guess is that these type of individuals don’t grow on trees.
We shall see.
The Waimea Community?? Dam was built by the Tasman district ratepayers and growers.No government money.It went 2x budget.It does not have a reticulated system.It only releases water to the Waimea River
I don’t know where you get your information from Anon 6.03 but my research suggests your claim that the Government didn’t contribute to the Waimea project is patently untrue.
While l have experienced considerable difficulty accessing a reliable summary of individual contributions, it would appear from published data l could find that the Government, through its various funding agencies, has contributed at least $50 million by way of loans and direct grants.
That figure is likely to be understated when the final wash-up is tabled and available for public scrutiny.
Your other comment about the reticulation of fresh water to an estimated 5000 hectares of irrigated land is also false.
These revelations only prove my point about the difficulty funding large scale fresh water storage projects without a significant contribution from Central and Local Government irrespective of the value of these projects to the communities who could benefit from them.
My guess is that any future project of this scale will have to be endorsed in principle by all end users who must understand the long term commitment required. Without it, most proposals will never proceed beyond the feasibility stage.
It will be the responsibility of local councils to sell the idea to a large majority of ratepayers - an unenviable task in anybody’s language.
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