Groundwater Modelling and Community Engagement Process
The Project
The Looming pressures of changing weather patterns and rising sea levels as a result of projected climate change highlighted the need for Gisborne District Council (GDC) to improve the management of groundwater resources in the Tūranganui a Kiwa (Poverty Bay) flats area.
GDC developed a range of groundwater allocation management scenarios, including the potential for managed aquifer recharge (MAR) to replenish local groundwater resources. The Council then looked to develop a numerical groundwater model to evaluate the effects of various abstraction and recharge scenarios.
Technical Solutions
WGA led the development of 3D numerical geological and groundwater models based on information provided by GDC to simulate the groundwater system of the Poverty Bay flats. The groundwater model was then used to simulate each of the groundwater management scenarios. The simulated scenarios incorporated the effects of predicted short and long-term climate change pressures on the resource, including additional irrigation demands and increasingly extreme droughts.
Working in close collaboration with GDC and local Māori Treaty Partners (iwi), detailed consultation allowed for local perspectives to be embedded into the model design, predictive scenarios, and features of interest. Iwi representatives attended online workshops and training sessions on groundwater modelling and scenarios, which enabled technical staff to adapt the model to incorporate local cultural knowledge and concerns.
Client Focus
After two years of meticulous modelling, the models and model outcomes have been documented in reports to GDC. This project prioritised open communication and structured training, empowering GDC to take full ownership of the groundwater models. This collaborative approach south to ensure the Council has the tools and knowledge to enable effective management of the Poverty Bay flats groundwater system.
This project showcases WGA’s capacity to support future community and regional plan development, to help clients build climate change resilience and community engagement into their strategic planning processes.
Features:
- Numerical Modelling
- Community Engagement
- Stakeholder Engagement