A report by ICC Three Waters strategic adviser Alister Murray has warned of Invercargill and the Bluff Port’s sole dependence on the Oreti River/Branxholme treatment scheme.
Although the probability was low, potential failure brought on by drought, contamination, or an earthquake, would have catastrophic consequences, and after the two-day reservoir storage was used the basic need for drinking water would not be met, the report said.
City councillors received the report during an infrastructure committee meeting on Tuesday and voted to approve the reforecasting of the alternative water supply project to bring funds forward to 2023-24 for additional investigation works.
Cr Peter Kett said water supply had been a top priority for the city for 20 years, but he questioned why the process of finding an additional source had been delayed that long.
Mayor Nobby Clark said large industries would not come to the city if their need for water could be guaranteed for only two days.
The city’s three most urgent needs identified by the council last year were housing, renewable energy and the alternative water supply, he said.
"From my assessment we’re the only city of this size in the country that doesn’t have an alternative water supply, so that’s a huge risk."
Council chief executive Michael Day said one of the key reasons for bringing the funding forward was to enable additional planning of the consent for another bore to move forward in finding an additional source.
He noted the language change from "emergency" to "additional" water source as once the source was connected to the city it would need to be kept circulating and the city would not be routinely reliant on the second supply.
The alternative water supply project was originally included in the 2021-31 long-term plan, with $19.7 million of funding included over 2025-26 and 2026-27.
The $700,000 brought forward from the plan will be used to fund a third bore on council-owned land in Awarua.
