Project Timeline

2016

February Exploratory drilling starts at two potential dam sites

2015

June Two options selected from a wider study of five scheme options

2013

September Possible storage site options narrowed to five (Options Refinement)
September Preliminary report on 14 possible water storage sites

2012

December Central government funding allocated for project investigations Initial investigation of potential regional water demand

2011

December Stakeholder Advisory Group established
December Technical, water availability and demand investigations began

2010

June Greater Wellington Regional Council began funding investigations
September Survey of current land use and potential demand for irrigation water

2009

August Regional political and community Leadership Group formed
November Initial meetings with interest groups

2007

Wairarapa Regional Irrigation Trust established

2001-03

Initial studies identify feasibility of water storage options

1997-98

Significant regional drought leads to Government-funded research project

You can access copies of reports from each of the project stages and major investigations or find out more about the current feasibility stage of the scheme.