Final costs and the design for the Hunter Downs irrigation scheme are expected to be released to shareholders and the public in September.
The scheme was a community irrigation proposal developed by Hunter Downs Irrigation Scheme Trust and Meridian Energy more than 10 years ago, and was designed to irrigate up to 40,000ha of land from the Waitaki River to Timaru.
Meridian Energy left the scheme in May and Hunter Downs Irrigation Ltd and the Hunter Downs Development Company amalgamated, forming the new controlling body, Hunter Downs Water Ltd, at the start of July.
Company spokeswoman Stacey Scott said a shareholder meeting was held last month to provide an update on the new company structure, the direction of the company and the irrigation design under investigation.
"We're now moving from the conceptual investigation to scheme developments.''
In February, the Morven Glenavy Ikawai Irrigation Company and the Rooney Group presented a new concept scheme alignment to Hunter Downs, and in May Hunter Downs made the decision to continue to investigate that option, she said.
"We'll have final designs and costs to shareholders in September this year."
The design was a gravity-fed main-race system that had large storage ponds to augment irrigation needs and a focus on reducing power usage costs.
"Over the next three months the Rooney Group will finalise their design and costs and a full peer review will be conducted.''
It was an important time for the scheme's shareholders, which numbered in the 90s, and board members who had been with the project since its inception, Mrs Scott said.
