Water talk fest

Regional community driven solutions for water supply must be delivered in a timely fashion if the Christchurch economy is to get the stimulus it needs post earthquake, says IrrigationNZ.

Building irrigation schemes using PPP's (public private partnerships), will be the focus of one of the key presenters, Greg Stanford, in the 'Building Tomorrow's Infrastructure' session. Stanford, general manager and technical and deputy chief executive of Tasmanian Irrigation will outline the Tasmanian experience across the broad spectrum of management issues related to irrigation development.

The state-owned Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd (TI) is half way through its task of developing a suite of regionally significant schemes as public-private partnerships in many of the island's regions.

Stanford will also address how TI has engaged irrigator communities, managed stakeholder expectations, handled broader public interest, managed the project development phases, managed sales, managed construction and then handled the move to operations.

This is a presentation on irrigation development 'in the round'. Find out how TI Pty Ltd synthesised into one consistent framework all the key aspects which need to come together to take a project from concept, to in-ground reality, to on-going operations.

Backing the Tasmanian infrastructure development experience will be farmer and irrigator Richard Gardener from Tunbridge in the Midlands of Tasmania. Gardener has been heading the push to develop the Midlands Water Scheme, the largest of Tasmania's irrigation schemes - a partnership with landowners, private investors, and Federal and State Governments.

Gardner manages a 2600ha farm with 650ha pivot irrigated, producing poppies, cereals, seed crops and lucerne as well as sheep meat and wool. He was a key player in the lobbying efforts prior to the 2007 Australian Federal election that resulted in $140 million being allocated to Tasmania for irrigation development.

Closer to home Hawkes Bay Regional Council chief executive Andrew Newman will outline the Hawkes Bay approach to infrastructure development. Newman's address will outline the Hawkes Bay water strategy and where infrastructure development fits, the reasons for its necessity and the risk management approach applied to feasibility projects.