Irrigation systems for Central Otago's public amenity areas are progressively being upgraded by the Central Otago District Council.
Many of the council-owned and maintained parks, reserves and greens are being irrigated by potable (drinking-standard) water because of existing connections, although the situation is set to change with upgraded systems being connected to bores.
CODC community facility manager Grahame Smail said the upgrades were part of a long-term plan to increase water efficiency throughout the district, ultimately cutting costs.
"We are trying to get irrigation water off town supplies and on to bore supplies," he said.
Although the council and local community boards will pay for upgrading irrigation systems from manual to automatic pumps, the new systems will decrease ongoing maintenance costs.
"Ultimately, we will be paying a lot less for bore water, not treated water like we pay to irrigate our grass at the moment. There will also be a reduction in labour costs with the new automated systems, and they will use less water more efficiently," Mr Smail said.
Pioneer Park in Alexandra is first to have its irrigation changed to an automatic system, pumping bore water from a source near the town's Linger and Die reserve.
Mr Smail said each community within Central Otago would have its irrigation changed when community boards allocated money for the initiative.
Cromwell and Alexandra were the council's main areas of interest in terms of irrigation development, although some parks and reserves in the Maniototo were also included in the initiative.
"Roxburgh and the surrounding area is not so much of a concern because it has a higher rainfall and irrigation is not such a pressing issue. Alexandra has a very arid climate and, with so many parks and reserves here being irrigated with expensive treated water, it is a priority," he said.
