Adequate Water Supply Assured For Gisborne City

Future Development Lies In Mangapoike Area

A major milestone in the long and difficult problem of providing Gisborne with adequate water supplies was reached earlier this month with the presentation to Council by the City Engineer, Mr Harold Williams, of a comprehensive report on the subject. It is a massive document of 85 pages, detailing all possible sources from Motu to Lake Waikaremoana.

The report recommends further development of Mangapoike resources, and has been adopted by Council. Mangapoike is estimated to be capable of providing adequate water up till about 1986. After that, the spectacular Puninga project, a couple of miles east of Mangapoike, is recommended to take the city well into the 21st century.

Puninga, where over 4,000 million gallons could be impounded behind a concrete dam, would not only solve the water supply problem. It would give Gisborne a two-mile lake only half a mile from the Wharerata Lookout on the southern highway, ideal for water-skiing and powerboat and rowing races, and provide important fire protection for the Wharerata state forests.

The second stage, marked Project No.2, is timed for 1972-73, and will cost $652,000. An earth dam 70ft high will be built at the point shown, and will impound 508 million gallons. This water will feed directly into the present pipeline from the Clapcott dam. For further details see next page.