A taxpayer-funded, multi-million dollar project to assess groundwater stocks throughout Wairarapa is set to take flight in 2021.
Photo: Supplied
Local and regional councils have devoted about $2.5 million into a scheme to use aerial electromagnetic [AEM] technology to find and measure hidden water aquifers in the Ruamahanga valley.
It is hoped that accessing these subterranean reserves may ease the strain on the valley's water supplies.
The work will piggyback off this year's scans in Hawke's Bay.
The Bay's regional council completed its scanning in February, but the results are yet to be published.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairperson Rex Graham said: "Water security is critical to the social, economic and environmental future of the region. Securing and managing our water starts with better understanding of what we have, how we use it and what future demand looks like".
Experts flew more than 8000km around the east coast region, mapping underground water supplies.
A helicopter towing the latest airborne electromagnetic survey technology scanned aquifers down to 300 metres, further than has ever been seen before.
Private companies did not take up the offer to support the initiative, meaning the public purse opened to back the flights and research.
In June, Provincial Growth Funding investment to the tune of $1.4m was confirmed.
This topped up a Greater Wellington Regional Council contribution of $900,000, $130,000 from Masterton District Council, and $50,000 and $49,000 from Carterton and South Wairarapa, respectively.
Wairarapa Water is the company behind the controversial Wakamoekau water storage scheme, and chief executive Robyn Wells said the survey would have "no impact" on the dam proposals.
Wells said water security in Wairarapa "is critical going forward and as we have said many times publicly multiple solutions must be sought."
The Wairarapa flight schedule, and the Hawke's Bay report, is set to be revealed in early 2021.
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