The shape and future of Masterton's Henley Lake will be put to ratepayers after Wednesday's district council meeting.

Photo: 123RF

District councillors will weigh up two options on the lake's future at the extraordinary meeting.

Henley Lake, which was conceived as a recreational area in the 1960s and constructed in the 1980s, is currently considered off limits because of toxic algae.

The lake is fed water through a water race from the Ruamāhanga River, which runs adjacent to the park.

This is allowed through a resource consent granted by Greater Wellington District Council.

Three small streams also enter the lake but the primary water source is necessary in order to maintain lake health.

This consent has now lapsed, and changes to Regional Plan rules have made getting a new one a harder task.

The complexity means continuing the existing resource consent application would mean "a positive outcome would be extremely uncertain", a report by David Hopman of Masterton District Council (MDC) stated.

The report offered two options to put to ratepayers as part of MDC's Annual Plan consultation.

One option recommends only taking water from the river when flows are above the minimum, without making any changes to the lake. The second approach would be a wetland area within the lake margins.

Councillors Gary Caffell and Chris Petersen sat on the working party set up on the matter.

Caffell said he was prepared to fight to keep the lake as it is.

"I'd like to see the council fight hard to make it happen. I'm certainly not giving up that fight at this stage.

"It does seem because of the consent processes from the GWRC that it's going to be a battle. But I'd like to see us put the gloves on and see the lake stay as it is."

Petersen said the effects of climate change would make change inevitable.

"Over time, I think we're just going to have to bite the bullet and admit it will be difficult to maintain the lake levels over all conditions."

Whichever option passes, it will be included in the council's annual plan consultation document, which is set to be released next month.

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