As Water Ltd directors were yesterday celebrating the news water consents had been granted for a $36 million scheme with the potential to irrigate 9000ha of land.
The Otago Regional Council granted the Tarras organisation a 35-year consent to take water from the Clutha River at two locations for irrigation, domestic and stock water, fire-fighting, frost-fighting and light industrial purposes.
The application was considered by Cr Duncan Butcher and Cr David Shepherd in a two-day hearing in mid-December and applicants were notified of the decision yesterday.
Nineteen submissions were received, with 13 in favour of the application and six neutral.
"Our response is that we're very happy with the decision. The conditions are fair and reasonable and we do not believe they are too onerous," Tarras Water secretary John Morrison said.
The 22 conditions cover the maximum amount of water that can be taken (4.5cumecs or 4500 litres a second) and the volume per month and per year.
They also include a ban on irrigation water being taken from May to August, conditions about performance monitoring, reports on water use and water sampling, and a requirement for irrigators to provide farm management plans.
A report by Aqualinc Research Ltd, tabled at the hearing, said the irrigation scheme would contribute $18 million to regional gross domestic product and create 257 jobs in the region.
Mr Morrison said water consents being granted removed a "big hurdle" to the scheme proceeding, assuming the decision was not appealed.
"If the scheme goes ahead - if we can find the money - it would be a big boost for this area and ensure its viability."
The next step for the water company was to seek all avenues of funding and to "sell" the scheme to local people.
"Now that the regulatory and process factors are out of the way, we can say to them, we've got it this far, can the locals find the wherewithal to build the scheme?"We don't underestimate the magnitude of that decision for the locals.
It means changing from their current farm practices to a more intensive style of farming, and that's a big decision."
