Ruataniwha scheme now in position to proceed

It was confirmed sufficient water sign-up will make the Hawkes Bay scheme cash positive.

Hawke's Bay Regional Investment Company (HBRIC) announced recently it has 196 Signed Water User Agreements, the numbers needed for the project to proceed.

Federated Farmers Hawkes Bay provincial president Will Foley says the dam will preserve the inter-generational nature of family farming in the Hawkes Bay.

"It's a great outcome for the region, and another positive step toward reaching regional benefits," he said.

"The Ruataniwha plains are highly vulnerable to drought, this dam will help protect farmers' productivity particularly through the summer and autumn periods and enable them to work towards higher value produce."

"The hardest part of getting this scheme underway was knowing whether the farmers would commit to this scheme with a 35 year contract and a change in the way they have been farming from traditional dry-land to irrigation."

Foley said that yesterday the message was loud and clear that CHB farmers are fully committed to the scheme and want to see this proceed.

"In turn this will have huge positive benefits to the whole of Hawkes Bay and I can't wait to see the transformation of from the dam construction, farm productivity, thriving communities and high value produce being exported from within the region all while maintaining the community's environmental values," he says.