Hikurangi Swamp Working Group Meeting 2/5/14 Topic/Owner Information 1 Last Meeting and apologies Minutes 2 Terms of Reference & Code of Conduct 3 Operations/Maintenance June 2014 Storm - Pump Operation - Spillway Levels - Junction Stopbank Cut Te Mata Electrical Board Performance Pumps Rewind Power Usage Okarika Stations Moir Tell Tales Grazing on Bermland AMP 4 Finances HydroTech Report Review 2014/15 CAPEX (Stop bank adjustments) 5 14-15 Drain Clearing Drain Clearing Proposal 6 Environmental issues Eels Okarika Ox-Bow re-establishment 7 Long term considerations (OPUS Hikurangi Plains Water Presentation) 8 River Works Supervisors Seminar Summary of seminar 9 AOB Depreciation
Terms of reference • Pocket reps – nominations of attendees?
Operations /Maintenance – June Storm
June Storm – Overview & Pump Operations • Hydrotech undertook a storm readiness procedure and were onsite for the majority of the rainfall event and subsequent days when pumps were operating • Pumps were isolated when the spillways were spilling to save power, and were re-started when river level dropped. • 240 Pleuger pump at Okarika was temporarily unavailable when a contactor failed 3pm 11 th June, repaired by 7:30pm 12th • Pump C at Okarika, B at Ngararatunua out. Both small Pleugers • Pumps switched off – Fri 20 th (Ngara), Sat 21 st (others), Sun 22 nd (Mountain) • No evidence of fish harm at stations – though outlets largely underwater
June Storm – Overview & Pump Operations contd. • Spillways operated on all pockets between 1800 on 10 th June between 12:00 & 1600 on 11 th June, with exception of Junction pocket which continued spilling until 06:00 on 12 th June – see figures • The storm highlighted the need for the stopbank re- adjustments, with water spilling in a number of locations over the stopbanks as well as the spillways
Spillway Sensor Data (mm) - 10 to 12 June 2014 500 Ngara 1 450 Junc 1 400 Moun 1 350 Okar 1 Oton 1 300 Tane 1 250 Te Ma 3 200 150 100 50 0
June Storm – Junction Stopbank Cut • Junction pocket was cut by farmer to release the floodwater • Both WDC & NRC attended the location • NRC likely to issue abatement notice and fine. • Farmer to pay for repair, including WDC engineer. • Jonda doing work. • WDC to consider consent change to permit works
Te Mata Electrical Board Performance • The Te Mata Switchboard was commissioned on 9 th May • The switchboard operated as designed, satisfactorily operating the June event, controlling the pumps as per existing level controls
Pump Re-wind Update • 3 small pleugers are away now being re- wound • The large recently re-wound pleuger, stored at Kioreroa Road has been vandalised of its feeder cables and propeller by thieves who broke onto site. Pump has been sent away to establish repair costs. Insurance job.
Power Usage
Okarika Station Moir Tell Tales 18-4-14 16-5-14 10-6-14 11-6-14
Grazing licenses • There have been three instances of cattle being spotted on Council Bermland with unrestricted access to waterways, one instance a repeat offender. • Council will be forced to seek a withdrawal of licences if warnings are not heeded.
Activity Management Plan • Required by law to prepare one • 20 year plan with up to 50 year forecast • Opus asked to prepare proposal to do in Conal’s absence. • To include structural and H&S assessment of stations
HydroTech April Report Review – General Info • Couple stormy days pre-easter weekend • Digger utilised at Ngararatunua & Otonga to clear weeds • Following events, stations checked and ensure clear of weeds
HydroTech April Report Review – Pump Hours Run Pocket Pump Junction Te Mata Tanekaha Mountain Otonga Ngararatunua Okarika A 0 14 5 2 70 55 5 B 53 0 25 8 0 58 C 0 D 0 0 4 1 E 5 1 All pumps were available at month end, apart from pump C at Okarika and pump B at Ngararatunua.
HydroTech April Report Review - Finances Flood Inspection Maintenance Environmental Attendance Drain Clearing $2,638.23 $350.34 $50.74 $654.53 $0 Maintenance – Send Pump B and Pump A’s starter away at Mountain Environmental – Lift flood gates for Eels
HydroTech May Report Review – General Info • Weather mild with little rainfall, allowing drain clearing to be completed for year • Pump at Junction has been re-installed following refurbishment • Pre-fabricated stainless steel ladders have been installed to allow pump access at Otonga, Ngararatunua & Okarika as part of the annual pump inspections, (existing ladders corroded and unsafe)
HydroTech May Report Review – Pump Hours Run Pocket Pump Junction Te Mata Tanekaha Mountain Otonga Ngararatunua Okarika A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 B 0 0 0 0 5 0 C 0 D 0 0 0 0 E 0 0 All pumps were available at month end, apart from pump C at Okarika and pump B at Ngararatunua. Pump A at Junction was brought out and back into service during the month
HydroTech May Report Review - Finances Flood Inspection Maintenance Environmental Attendance Drain Clearing $2,638.22 $9,720.15 $790.8 $738.71 $14,657.34 Maintenance – Install rat bait traps in all stations, commissioning of Te Mata, gate damage and ladder replacements, lifting of pump A at Mountain and concrete spalling investigation Environmental – Okarika Ox-bow restoration Drain Clearing – April, Lupton & Wilsonville Drains and Otonga Stream Cleared, also some willow tree removals
YTD and forecast 2013/14 2013/14 Budget 2013/14 Current Forecast 2014/15 Budget Account Description Actuals YTD Full Year Full Year Curr Vers Refreshments Provided 0 0 0 0 Freight & Cartage 0 2,000 0 0 Electricity Supply Costs 41,697 173,000 102,781 180,000 Management Fee 0 0 0 0 Uniforms 0 0 0 0 Water Rights Paid NRC Consent 0 5,000 2,000 2,000 Payments to External Contractors 84,034 295,000 229,143 190,000 Legal Fees (13,730) 10,000 (2,493) 10,000 Engineering Fees (10,976) 4,576 (10,771) 30,000 Other Professional Fees 2,652 5,000 5,877 5,000 Infrastructure & Services (not Contract) 72,654 5,000 0 0 Plant & Equip Maintenance non Contract 110,393 43,000 118,843 100,000 Grand Total 286,724 542,576 445,380 517,000 • “Payment to ext contractors” and “plant and equipment maint ” includes budget to rewind 3 small pleugers and undertake electrical improvements.
Stopbank Adjustments • Budget in annual plan - $357k • WDC to seek Clements to confirm price to avoid retender • Kennedy and Associates to do inspections and manage onsite – awaiting offer of service
14-15 Drain Clearing Proposal • Plan to review all drains within the catchment • Budgetting $70k for drain clearing • Anticipated mixture of spraying and excavating • Handouts
Environmental Issues • End of the ox-bow lake was formed a few days prior to the June storm, initial reports indicate that it has remained intact. • Ngati hau, Landcare Trust to plant out later in year
Environmental Issues
Hikurangi Plains Water • OPUS / E Smeath
Waikato Regional Council Flood Management Seminar May 2014
Waikato River lowering • Removal of sand and metal has been encouraged got up to 1,200,000 cubic metres per year • Meant river dropped • Now being maintained ~ 150,000 m3/yr • Has affected lakes and ground water tables • Eg lake Waahi (near Huntly) • Put in weir to keep levels in lake high and control gate to stop flooded river back filling lake
River level dropped ~ 1.5m
Lower Waikato Flood Protection • 2002 project Watershed developed to improve flood protection • Integration of many TLA’s roles into one under Waikato Regional Council • Pump stations upgraded as many were unsafe to operate and maintain. Switch gear and weed clearing biggest issues
River level dropped ~ 1.5m
Blairs Pump Station before and after
Waikato River Flood Retention – Lake Waikare
Waikato Flood Retention – Lake Waikare
Waikato Flood Retention – Lake Waikare
Waikato Flood Retention – Lake Waikare
Waikato Flood Retention – Lake Waikare
Waikato Flood Retention – Lake Waikare Waikato River – Clearing debris
Peat Settlement • Farmland on old wetlands made up of many metres depth of peat • Drainage of the peat allows it to break down and disappear • 10mm up to 100mm per year if cropped • This lowers the catchment level and reduces the drainage slope • Pump stations become less effective as they become too high to lower the water level. • Example from Motukaraka
Waikato Flood Retention – Lake Waikare Waikato River – Clearing debris
Waikato Flood Retention – Lake Waikare Waikato River – Clearing debris
Thames flood protection • Large thunderstorm 2002 decimated parts of town… some gauges recorded 125mm in < 30 minutes • Bottlenecks in stream mouths widened and flood protection barriers built
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