| 63 T T Russell Fredric Water resilience boosted in Wairarapa The project is a collaboration between Carterton District Council and central government. Carterton District Council: Waingawa Water Pump INFRASTRUCTURE A major infrastructure development to build a large water-storage reservoir in the Carterton District has taken a significant step forward. Carterton District Council has secured $20 million in loan funding from the Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund for the co-funded project budgeted at $25 million, with the council contributing $5 million. The project is a collaboration between Carterton District Council and central government, including the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Enterprise, with support from Wairarapa Water Resilience Group, iwi partners, WellingtonNZ, and Greater Wellington Regional Council. Carterton District Council’s group manager infrastructure, Johannes Ferreira, says the reservoir will support Waingawa Industrial Park, a major regional employment hub located on the boundary of Masterton and Carterton. The park is home to commercial facilities, such as timber-processing plants, transport depots, and other commercial occupants, and is strategically positioned next to State Highway 2, the Wairarapa rail line, and other key infrastructure. From August, the park will have access to low-cost untreated process water in addition to existing utilities and services. “This should attract water-intensive industries, such as food processing and manufacturing,” Johannes says. The reservoir follows the Waingawa Process Water Project, which has enabled a century-old water race, a repurposed storage tank and a new pump station to deliver untreated process water directly from Waingawa River to local businesses. This provides the Waingawa industrial area with an untreated water option, reducing the cost of the water to those businesses, instead of using treated water at a higher cost. The reservoir will initially store up to 500,000 cubic metres of water, with potential expansion to one million cubic metres, also supporting irrigation for surrounding pastoral land, Johannes says. “The water storage is going to supplement the current process water project, and even though it’s two independent projects, they do work closely together.” Regional Development Minister Hon Shane Jones announced the Government funding at a gathering in Carterton on June 26, and said the reservoir would be a game-changer for Wairarapa. “Water resilience has been identified as a regional priority for Wairarapa. A lack of water security is holding back development and limiting current land-use options,” the Minister said The process water project was green-lit about 18 months ago, also with funding from the Regional Infrastructure Fund. “Both projects contribute to water resilience, because what it does is it takes the pressure off the water sources for human consumption during the summer, and it provides resilience to the industrial area. It will provide 365 days of water unrestricted to the industrial area and the water storage will also support the agricultural land around the Waingawa industry,” Johannes says. He says the availability of a reliable water source also creates opportunities for industries to be attracted to the region, with a potential of creating at least 350 new jobs and an economic benefit of $110 million net profit over 20 years “It would be amazing not only for Carterton, but for the whole Wairarapa.” Construction is expected to start early 2026 with the goal of completion late that year, which Johannes describes as an ambitious goal, “but we are very confident in our abilities to deliver this”. Carterton Mayor Ron Mark says the funding marks a turning point for the region. “This project represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to turn decades of discussion into delivery, and I thank the Government for recognising its potential.” Johannes acknowledges the role Ron Mark played in advocating for the reservoir and its funding. “I would not underestimate the value that he would have had. Ron Mark is very ambitious and has got a heart for Carterton, and he works really hard to find opportunities like this.” Proudly supporting Carteron District Council ORDISH & STEVENS Experts inCivil Construction inWairarapa G&CDiggers Ltd is a well-established, locally owned and operated civil construction company. We focus on both domestic and commercial projects, handling all types of construction works in and around theWairarapa.
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