The Government’s announcement that it will fund additional pipeline to reticulate water from reservoirs in both the Kaipara and Mid North will be transformative in both districts says Te Tai Tokerau Water Trust chair Murray McCully. The new loan funding for the Trust will enable the completion of a pipeline from the Te Kopuru to Dargaville, and, in the Mid North, from Waimate North to Ngawha.
The new Kaipara pipeline, estimated to cost $17.5m, will connect the 3.3 million cubic metre Te Waihekeora Reservoir completed at Glinks Gully last year, to Dargaville, where level 4 water restrictions are currently in place. The project will be completed by the Trust in conjunction with the Dargaville to Te Kopuru stop bank, which has received a separate $7.8m grant.
“The new funding will deliver the Dargaville area a fully scalable scheme, relieving pressure on the municipal water supply and opening the door to higher value land use between Te Kopuru and Dargaville, and, potentially on the other side of the river. The completed scheme will be transformative for the district and I want to acknowledge the vision and drive of Minister Shane Jones which have made it possible,” said Trust chair Murray McCully.
“The decision to provide a further $13m of loan funding to the Mid North scheme will enable the 4 million cubic metre, $47m Otawere Reservoir, which will be completed in the coming months, to be connected to the smaller Matawii Reservoir at Ngawha, completed two years ago. This will create a water corridor across the Mid North, supporting municipal supply and providing a catalyst for high value horticulture across the sub-region.”
