fbpx
Print this page
Friday, 05 July 2019 10:55

Falls dam delay frustrates backers

Written by  Nigel Malthus
MRL acting chair Gary Kelliher. MRL acting chair Gary Kelliher.

The Falls Dam irrigation project in the Manuherikia catchment, near Alexandra, has been put on hold because of uncertainty over water allocations.

But the $60-70 million project will go ahead when the issues are resolved, says Manuherikia River Ltd (MRL) acting chair Gary Kelliher.

The project is aimed at raising or replacing the 1930s Falls Dam on the Manuherikia headwaters, near St Bathans, to about double its capacity, and amalgamating and upgrading several small irrigation schemes based on the river to improve storage and security of supply.

Most of those schemes rely on historic mining water rights due to expire in 2021 and needing replacement with Resource Management Act consents. But there is uncertainty over that process and proposed minimum flow limits which irrigators believe would be too restrictive. 

Kelliher says too many unknowns are in the way of moving to the next phase without clear direction from the Otago Regional Council.

He says they have asked repeatedly for a detailed timeline, but no one at ORC seemed capable of providing it. “They’ve shown they aren’t listening to us,” he said.

Kelliher adds that the Government policy change which stopped Crown Irrigation Investments loans for new irrigation projects has also caused uncertainty. Alternative funding of $2-5m would now be needed for the final feasibility phase.

Kelliher is a longtime backer of the project through his involvement with the Manuherikia Catchment Water Strategy Group. He has chaired MRL since October when chairman Allan Kane and two other directors stepped aside. They have all offered to return when the issues are resolved, but are receiving no director fees in the meantime.

Waitaki National MP Jacqui Dean says she is extremely disappointed with the delay, which would impact economic development across Central Otago.

“The previous National Government supported the Falls Dam project with a development grant of $815,000 for pre-feasibility investigations, but I feel that taxpayer money has now effectively been wasted while this project is hamstrung by ill-considered Government policy.

Deans said the project would have been a game-changer for Central Otago, irrigating 12,000ha in the Manuherikia Valley and servicing 600 farms, horticulture, viticulture and lifestyle blocks.

It is frustrating the Government has been short-sighted about the potential of irrigation projects like this, she said.

More like this

Point of View: Vineyard irrigation scheduling

Most vineyards require irrigation at some point. Deciding when and how much is required is a powerful management tool that directly affects fruit production, disease pressure, and even operational passes.

Lifting irrigation prowess on farm

The ability to manage an irrigation system depends on the percentage of water pumped that becomes available for plants to use, according to Watermetrics.

Featured

Sheep drench resistance costly

Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

AGTEK and ARGO part ways

After 12 years of representing the Landini and McCormick brands in New Zealand, Bay of Plenty-based AGTEK and the brands’…

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…