● Early’s
Intake, in Steele Rd, upper Rakaia;
● Lower
Rakaia Intake in Headworks Road;
● Haldon Intake in Haldon
Road.
All properties that have access to
the water race are charged a water race rate per hectare (i.e. a targeted rate).
In 2001 the Selwyn District Council (SDC) began
a review to see if there was still sufficient need and justification for
maintaining the water race, given:
(1) the significant number of farms converting to dairy farming;
(2) questions about the efficiency of the water race, and
(3) the increase in rates needed for a resource consent to upgrade the race system
(including the three intakes) to keep it operational and well maintained.
Following the review, the Council decided in 2004 to close the
Ellesmere water race scheme. This decision attracted considerable opposition
and, for the next two years, the race remained open while
Council and interested parties held discussions on alternatives to closure.
These discussions resulted in an agreement in 2006 to embark on
a process whose outcome would result in a binding decision about the future of the ESWR.
One component of that process was for the Council to survey those in the ESWR catchment about their attitudes towards various options.
This survey was carried out in mid 2006. The results were analysed by Research First, an independent, Christchurch-based, market research company. This report outlines the results of that survey.
Any questions about this survey can be directed to Keri Harrison (03) 3245 879 or eswr-survey@selwyn.govt.nz.
Links:
Newsletter that accompanied the survey.
Survey Results.
