Those celebrating the launch of the $1.5 million feasibility study into water management in the Manuherikia catchment may have toasted the venture with orange juice but water remained the star of the show.
The next stage in exploring options for boosting irrigation and perhaps domestic water supplies in the catchment is expected to take about a year and will get the project ''consent-ready''.
The Manuherikia Catchment Water Strategy Group has funding for the study and has appointed Golder Associates to carry out the technical work, with Kate Scott, of BTW South, managing the project, group chairman Allan Kane told about 40 people who attended the launch in Alexandra this week.
The study will investigate increasing the storage capacity of the Falls Dam, the design of efficient water distribution systems in the Manuherikia Valley and new storage and distribution systems in the Ida Valley.
''It will consider the environmental, social and cultural impacts the development options would have on the catchment,'' Mr Kane said. The options being considered could increase the total area of irrigated land from about 15,000ha to 35,000ha.
A grant of $750,000 from the Government's Irrigation Acceleration Fund for the study was announced last week and the remaining money will come from the Otago Regional Council, the catchment irrigation companies, private water right holders and dryland farmers.
Golder impressed the group because of its strength in geotechnical work and because it shared the aim of involving the community, Mr Kane said.
Water resource manager for Golder, Richard Little, who is also project director, said he hoped the study would sort out one or two viable options that passed the ''environmental tests''.
Regional council chairman Stephen Woodhead said the Manuherikia Valley was a crucial area for Central Otago, likening the launch of the feasibility study to ''getting ready to push the green light'' on the project. He praised the water group for ''pulling the whole valley together as a collective''. It would be a more vibrant community because of that co-operation, he said.
