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Description of water race closure process and any current advertised closures.

DISCONTINUANCE OF A STOCKWATER RACE

Updated 26 September 2023 | Upper Ellesmere Water Race Closure

Due to changes in land use, and with the introduction of Central Plains Water (CPW) Irrigation Scheme, there has been demand for Selwyn District Council to close large portions of the Upper Ellesmere water race scheme.

Following public consultation, as part of the 2022 / 2023 Annual Plan, a decision was made by the Council to close this scheme, excluding the strategic water race. This map shows the areas affected and the timeline for the closure: Upper Ellesmere Water Race Closure Map.

For affected landowners, the Council recommends leaving dry water race channels open and maintained to help manage surface water flows during rain events. The maintenance of this channel will fall to the landowner. If you wish to fill the old channel, landowners must construct a soak hole at the upstream end of the channel to dispose of water that could have entered/been conveyed by the race.

Should property owners construct a soak hole and subsequently experience ponding or backflow, it will be the responsibility of the landowner to take all prudent steps to dispose of that excess water.

If you have any further questions, please send these to waterraces@selwyn.govt.nz, or call our Customer Services Team
on 0800 735 996.

Updated 4 May 2023

Due to demand and limited resourcing, we are not accepting any new water race closures at this time, there will be delays in processing current applications.

We are endeavoring to get through our backlog as quickly as possible to enable this process to operate as normal.

We appreciate your patience while this is being addressed.

Public Initiated Water Race Closures

The Selwyn District Council, in accordance with the special consultative procedure as outlined in the Local Government Act 2002, advises their intention to discontinue the stock water race(s):

1 – 2.1 km in the Paparua scheme, Selwyn Road

2 – 1.1km in the Paparua scheme, Tancreds Road

3 – 0.1km in the Malvern scheme, Reynolds Road

4 – 1.2km in the Paparua scheme, East Maddisons Road

The discontinuance of these stock water races will be effective from mid-September 2022, subject to the consultation process.

1. Submissions close on 19th August 2022.
2. To make a submission please email waterraces@selwyn.govt.nz or contact Council.
3. Submitters may be heard in support of their submission by a sub-committee of Council.
4. View our Summary of Proposal [PDF, 1007 KB] detailing this proposal and the sections of stock water race to be closed.
5. Maps showing the extent of each individual race can be viewed in the Summary of Proposal document.