Too many hunters and dog walkers have been caught walking around the Kaipaitangata Water Treatment Plant in the Carterton District so new signage will be displayed on the entrance gates warning the public to keep away from the out-of-bounds area.
According to details from a recent Carterton District Council’s [CDC] Policy and Projects Committee meeting agenda, the first sign will state: “Water Supply Catchment Area – under the Water Services Act 2021 and Taumata Arowai as the Drinking Water Regulator, Public Access is prohibited from this catchment.”
The second sign will read “Warning CCTV in place and recording”. New security cameras have been installed on the building and will record activity and feed into the inside of the plant so that operators can see what is happening outside the plant.
A CDC spokesperson told the Times-Age that the hunters and dog walkers were given a verbal warning in the first instance, with the understanding that the matter would be referred to the police should there be a reoccurrence.
“Under the new Water Services Act, we have an obligation to keep the catchment secure,” the spokesperson said.
“This is the main water catchment area for Carterton’s urban drinking water supply, so it is vital that we protect it.”
