A study in the Kurow-Duntroon area of the Waitaki Valley is being planned to see if the area of land under irrigation can be expanded, bringing more economic benefits to the community.
It is being led by the Waitaki Irrigators' Collective Ltd, an organisation representing Waitaki Valley irrigation schemes and individual irrigators in the valley.
The collective is applying to the Government's Irrigation Acceleration Fund for money to help pay for the study, a move which has gained the support of the Waitaki District Council. The fund has money for strategic water-management studies, such as the one being proposed for the Waitaki Valley.
Waitaki Irrigators' Collective policy manager Elizabeth Soal said, at this stage, the cost of the study was still being determined before an application was made for assistance.
The proposed study would explore options and the potential to expand and improve irrigation in the wider Duntroon and Kurow areas of the Waitaki Valley.
The objectives of the study are to look at:
• Expanding irrigation area by improved use of water already allocated.
• Improving environmental outcomes by reducing pressure on over-allocated surface water.
• Improving water-use efficiency.
• Providing data on the social and economic benefits of irrigation to the communities involved,Gaining a better understanding of the environmental impacts or irrigation and ways to improve environmental outcomes.
• Investigating mechanisms to join up water permits and land-use consents.
The study has gained the support of irrigators in the area from Duntroon to Kurow and discussions are being held with consultants about the project cost and when it can be carried out.
Ms Soal could see benefits to the communities and the region, some of which were the potential to increase the area under irrigation, increasing output with economic gains through increased employment and expenditure, more efficient use of water, possible increases in flows in tributaries and assisting community development.
