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Cardrona goes for Gold Cardrona residents Jean-Claude Handtschowerker, Rachel Ferris and her daughter Amber, dressed up for the 150 Years of Gold celebrations at the weekend. (See story page 5)
Christmas volunteers page 2
Salisbury decision thrills family page 3
PHOTO: Thierry Huet Photography
Fans enjoy Festive Fete page 5
Naming of sculls page 7
Fast finishes for boys page 12
rental listings
sunclassifieds
pages 14 &15
Water under investigation Caroline Harker QLDC ratepayers are being asked to save water even though we have limitless supplies. The problem is the cost of moving it from the lakes or bores to the reservoirs and then to household taps. The current costs are exacerbated by the loss of one third of the water through leaks, and council wants ratepayers to check their properties, while council staff check pipes on the other side of the tobies. Another major water cost is the massive increase in demand over the summer holiday season, which means ratepayers bear the expense of the bigger facilities we have to cope with the extra demand. Wanaka township uses 6000 cubic metres a day most of the year but in summer this goes up to over 20,000 cubic metres. Council researchers are investigating how much of this is due to visitor numbers and how much is due to outdoor use – in particular
irrigation. Meanwhile ratepayers are being asked to conserve water. QLDC strategic project manager Martin O’Malley said council slashed $100 million (for bigger water schemes) from the water budget in the 2009 District Plan. “We have a huge water resource that will
meters in Luggate have shown that 95 percent of people use less water than expected which means either 5 percent are using a huge amount and/or the leaks are causing the problem. He said they should have a good idea of what is required to save water in the district by the end
We have a huge water resource that will never run out. But we are asking everyone to be careful how they use water and not to waste it. never run out,” he said. “But we are asking everyone to be careful how they use water and not to waste it.” Council is also looking at its own use, including irrigation of parks and reserves. An option being considered is individual water meters for every household and business. Test
of the summer, although they will continue with further research. “We engineers tend to be a cautious bunch,” he said. “Our water demand management is in its infancy.” Negotiations are taking place with Otago Polytechnic to employ a dry gardening expert who will give talks around the district about landscaping
suitable for our environment. “It is to get people who are respected as experts to represent us,” Martin said. One controversial water expense in the district is chlorination of the water supply. While most parts of the Upper Clutha do not have chlorinated water Wanaka township does and this costs $275,000 a year. Martin said although they can get away with no chlorination on smaller schemes, due to the larger populations in Wanaka and Queenstown they have to adhere to a national drinking water standard which means treating the water with chlorine or with ultraviolet light. Water is on the agenda for the next council meeting which is being held in Queenstown on Tuesday.