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Locals are furious a consent granted six years ago to bottle water in Upper Hutt went unnoticed because the Wellington Regional Council refused to publicly notify it.
The consent, granted to Heretaunga Water Ltd in 2013, allows up to 180 million litres of water to be drawn from … View morewww.rnz.co.nz...
Locals are furious a consent granted six years ago to bottle water in Upper Hutt went unnoticed because the Wellington Regional Council refused to publicly notify it.
The consent, granted to Heretaunga Water Ltd in 2013, allows up to 180 million litres of water to be drawn from the ground each year for the purposes of water bottling.
The site at Refreshment Place in Upper Hutt sits out of view from the main road. Only if you drive down the small cul-de-sac do you see the processing plant and tanks behind an electric fence.
Previously, the site hosted the Coca-Cola bottling plant.
The 2012 consent application states the Tauranga-based company's intention to take water for the purposes of bottling.
A later email in 2016 from one of the company's directors Jeffrey Colby to the council confirmed it planned to begin a "long and expensive development" selling water to the international market.
Upper Hutt city councillor Angela McLeod said locals should have had a say.
"The community is very clear that they're not happy about this. Very, very clear. I did my own poll [on Facebook] and it was 95 percent saying that they didn't want water being bottled here and sold off overseas.
"I mean, it's a no-brainer to me."
At the time the iwi's spokesperson, Teri Puketapu, who was notified because of an agreement between the iwi and council, asked for the application to go out for public consultation.
This was because the company had asked to take more water per second than what was permitted in the council's freshwater plan.
The council decided this was not necessary and the approval went ahead, largely under the radar.
Ms McLeod said that was not acceptable.
"For a start I think that that's a slight on the mana of the iwi, but also because public notification should be given for such a thing as taking water out of our groundwater zone."
Although the consent was granted in February 2013, extraction has only happened once - for about a month in November 2016 - however local resident Tracey Ultra noticed the roof of the plant being worked on recently and after making some inquiries learned what was going on.
She has since started a petition, which has gathered more than 5000 signatures, calling on the council to revoke the consent.
She said water in the Hutt Valley was vulnerable and more care needed to be taken.
"We already have very low river flows and toxic algae in the summer and if there is more water taken from the aquifer, then there'll be less coming up from the springs from the aquifer to feed the river during long dry spells. If we upset that balance then we don't know what will happen."
Regional councillor Paul Swain, who represents Upper Hutt, said despite the opposition the consent was legal, did not need to be publicly notified, and there were no grounds to review or revoke it.
Mr Swain, who is part of a working group looking at water quality and quantity in Wellington, said the rules around which extraction consents were given needed to be tightened.
"We mess with our water supply at our peril, and in my view if we're going to be taking water from something like an aquifer we need to be pretty clear that we know what the impact of that is going to be on the environment.
"And this is what the real question is now, do we know sufficient enough about this and will we regret it in the future?"
In 2013, Greater Wellington Regional Council gave resource consent to extract 180 million litres of water per year from an existing bore in Refreshment Place in Upper Hutt.In 2013, Greater Wellington Regional Council gave resource consent to extract 180 million litres of water per year from an existing bore in Refreshment Place in Upper Hutt.
He said the consent was issued at a time when people were not as concerned about climate change.
"People are really worried about this, we're worried about water, we're worried about water shortages and in my view, we need to be able to make sure that the rules are tougher."
"There may be a requirement for changes to the Resource Management Act. We're at the early stages of all of this ... but it's clear that there's a lot of public concern about this. We know that climate change is one of the big things facing us, we've got to make sure that our water supplies and the environment are protected and that the rules are in place to do just that."
The council has stated on its website that Heretaunga Water have recently advised they hope to be operational soon, however it must give the council 48 hours' notice.
The consent is valid until 2023.
It is one of three approved consents for water bottling in the region. The other two in Petone allow for a combined take of almost 950 million litres a year, however according to the council's website, neither are being actively used.
RNZ.CO.NZ
THE MAYORALTY
Some of you may remember that I have been engaging with Mayor and Council since 2017 in relation to the changes made to our Library.
My opinions are based on actual, factual, events and personal experiences, all of which are documented and were explained at length in my posts on… View moreTHE MAYORALTY
Some of you may remember that I have been engaging with Mayor and Council since 2017 in relation to the changes made to our Library.
My opinions are based on actual, factual, events and personal experiences, all of which are documented and were explained at length in my posts on Neighbourly/Facebook from 2017 and if read should answer any questions as to why I feel the way I do.
You of course will have your own experiences and perspectives, at least I hope so!
Don't waste your time attacking me, I don't care and I won't reply or defend my point of view. This is a statement not an invitation to a conversation.
I am happy to see that we have at least three people standing for Mayor.
Nobody should stand unopposed in a dynamic and vibrant city which embraces community led development.
I am not at all interested in which political party any of candidates may vote for in a National election. I only care that they live in and have a passion for our city, and keep the oath they take to serve, represent, facilitate ratepayer engagement with council.
I am looking forward to a more diverse, younger, progressive, future thinking Mayor going forward, a person who respects ratepayers, is inclusive, open to change, who is creative and responsive to the fast changing climate, both figuratively and literally, who not only has a vision for now, but also a sense of the legacy that our younger citizens will inherit in their turn.
Firstly the Encumbent encumberance – Wayne Guppy, who has not yet shared his vision of Upper Hutt going forward, in which issues such as, recycling, safe drinking water, selling our water, transport, climate change etc are addressed, but tells us he is giving us more of the same old boy network, old school tie, tired old white men, in the box, backward thinking that have him and many of the males on current council thinking themselves superior and entitled, and worst of all exclusive and not accountable.
The Mayor gave me the direct impression that we ratepayers are a nuisance! That he need not represent us, but risk assess us and then turn it over to someone else in administration to fob off, in a condescending and patronising manner with the hope that they will wear you down and you will go away.
He then made it near to impossible for me to be represented in council by a councillor, interfering with my democratic right by telling the councillors not to engage with me.
He does not keep faith with the people who elect him, pay him, trust him.
Steve Taylor to his credit was the only councillor who replied to my first round of emails, he was however, patronising and condescending and only paying lip service. I was and still remain unimpressed.
Angela McLeod, Ros Conelley and Helen Swales responded to my second email requesting help and representation and I chose to deal with Angela going forward.
Angela McLeod
I have been impressed by her respect for the ratepayers and their many and varied concerns, impressed by her unfailing commitment to Upper Hutt, building on the historic family ties that root her in Upper Hutt heart and mind. I have been impressed that she finds the time and energy to attend as many community meetings as she does, while retaining her good humour.
Angela keeps the faith and keeps her oath to serve, represent and facilitate.
Angela and her husband as a couple are committed to Upper Hutt, running his business in Upper Hutt and investing directly in the future of Upper Hutt, purchasing the building where he has his business.
All my dealings with Angela have been straight forward and rewarding and she has earned my unqualified support as a Councillor and a future Mayor.
Are we happier owning our own home or renting?
It turns out one answer does not fit all.
Some people feel more "grounded" owning their own home, giving them the feeling they're planning for the future and creating a legacy. But there are people who think the opposite. Read more
Get ready to get creative at the funkiest little arts festival in the Hutt, from 15-17 August.
There are loads to see and do including Resene Live-Action Murals.
Watch paintings come to life as professional artists create full-size murals in pop-up locations around Lower Hutt. Want to give it… View moreGet ready to get creative at the funkiest little arts festival in the Hutt, from 15-17 August.
There are loads to see and do including Resene Live-Action Murals.
Watch paintings come to life as professional artists create full-size murals in pop-up locations around Lower Hutt. Want to give it a try? There will be free instruction and everyone is welcome to contribute to the murals. You can arrive at any time during the sessions, but be warned, you’ll be so engrossed and having fun that you should plan to stay for the whole time!
The final versions can be seen at the Hutt Winter Festival, Final Fantastic Festivities on Saturday 17 August.
This time around, the Neighbourly Guidelines are a bit different from previous years.
www.neighbourly.co.nz...
This link will highlight the changes. Candidates are being asked not to use the Noticeboard for their electioneering, so other options are given.
This tree will be missed. On Sunday morning (11 August), a 30-year old Poplar tree was found chopped down at the Te Awa Kairangi/Hutt River entrance at Whakatikei in Upper Hutt. It was in perfect health, but obviously someone did not wish it well. Fortunately, no one was hurt when the tree fell … View moreThis tree will be missed. On Sunday morning (11 August), a 30-year old Poplar tree was found chopped down at the Te Awa Kairangi/Hutt River entrance at Whakatikei in Upper Hutt. It was in perfect health, but obviously someone did not wish it well. Fortunately, no one was hurt when the tree fell across the road.
Felling trees (dead or alive) on river reserve is a prohibited activity, and also poses significant safety risks to other river users.
This person may have wrongly assumed the tree was dead as it had no leaves, therefore could be cut down for firewood. Poplars and willows are deciduous species with leaves present form spring to autumn.
We encourage communities to enjoy a wide range of pursuits at our rivers - while being mindful of others and respecting the environment.
New Zealand is one of the happiest countries in the world, but how do you even define happiness?
There's a growing body of research on happiness showing the things that make us happier, and things that detract from our happiness. Read more from our "Good Life Guide" here.
Your help can provide free services to those who need us, now and in the future.
A gift in your Will is a simple way of supporting the Cancer Society Wellington.
We will contribute $250 (plus GST) towards the legal cost .
Hi Everyone,
Thought I would try here to see if anyone has or knows of anyone getting rid of/ no longer needs a double bed in good good condition. Please private msg me
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