Wednesday, 02 December 2015 14:02

Ruataniwha irrigation scheme a step closer

Written by 
Irrigation New Zealand chief executive Andrew Curtis. Irrigation New Zealand chief executive Andrew Curtis.

The propsed Hawke's Bay Ruataniwha irrigation scheme is another step closer following the approval of the design and construction contract for its dam at a regional council meeting last week.

The scheme has bred controversy at the Hawke's Bay Regional Council meeting table, splitting councillors for and against it. But this new development means the design and construction contract is bankable – the pro-Ruataniwha faction is now in the ascendancy.

This has prompted Irrigation New Zealand – the national body representing irrigators and the irrigation industry – to congratulate the Hawke's Bay Regional Investment Company.

"It is a key step toward getting the project on its feet," Irrigation New Zealand chief executive Andrew Curtis says. "It means further capital raising can continue in earnest and investor interest from Hawkes Bay and other areas can be progressed."

And Curtis points to another positive milestone: the amount of water already contracted or in the final stages of being contracted to farmers now exceeds the required 40% threshold.

"This is positive for theHawke's Bay region which suffers annually from extreme dry spells affecting agriculture and impacting local economies and communities. The certainty of water supply from Ruataniwha will put a stop to that insecurity and help turn Waipukurau into the Ashburton of the north," Curtis says.

More like this

Effluent is 'rocket fuel' for grass

Precision Slurry says they are effluent application specialists who pride themselves on leading the way in cleaning out any system - fully utilising the nutrients often seen as a problem on farms.

West tackles all manures

Depending on your perspective, dairy farming brings with it the joys or problem of dealing with animal waste, be it liquid slurries or more solid manures.

Featured

Editorial: Will big be better?

OPINION: The shakeup to the science sector with the proposed merger of four ag related crown research institutes (CRIs) into one conglomerate has drawn little public reaction.

Co-op boosts chilled exports to China

Alliance Group has secured greater access for chilled beef exports to China, following approval for two of its processing plants to supply the market.

Expo set to deliver in spades

The countdown is on to be one of the most anticipated events in the sheep and beef industry, the East Coast Farming Expo.

New Summerfruit NZ CEO

Dean Smith has been in the role of CEO of Summerfruit NZ for about four months, having succeeded Kate Hellstrom at the end of September.

FE survey underway

Beef + Lamb NZ wants farmers to complete a survey that will shed light on the financial toll of facial eczema (FE) at the farm level.

National

Good season for apples

Brydon Nisbet, the president of Hawke's Bay Fruit Growers Federation, says the mood of growers in Hawke's Bay is quite…

Good times return

Following several years of pain, farmers and growers are facing a decent upswing in commodity prices, say economists.

Machinery & Products

Loosening soil without fuss

Distributed in New Zealand by Carrfields, Grange Farm Machinery is based in the Holderness region of East Yorkshire – an…

JCB unveils new models

The first of the UK’s agricultural trade shows was recently held at the NEC Centre in Birmingham.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Ruth reckons

OPINION: Ruth Richardson, architect of the 1991 ‘Mother of all Budgets’ and the economic reforms dubbed ‘Ruthanasia’, added her two…

Veg, no meat?

OPINION: Why do vegans and others opposed to eating meat try to convince others that a plant based diet is…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter