Farmer shareholders in the Upper Waitaki Community Irrigation Company, which recently changed its name to the Kurow-Duntroon Irrigation Company (KDIC), have been advised of large costs increases brought about by new and harsher consent conditions.
KDIC chairman Geoff Keeling said although the costs to farmers had ''basically doubled'' this year to $190 per share/per year, the public's expectation on water quality had increased ''massively'', and the 40-year-old scheme needed to change with the times.
Originally built in the 1960s, the scheme was granted a mediated consent in November, after a new resource consent granted by Environment Canterbury in 2011 was appealed to the Environment Court.
Both the consent conditions and public expectations meant the scheme and its farmers needed to be more efficient in their use of water, Mr Keeling said.
''We cannot shy away from our responsibilities here, and if the farmers in the scheme want the water, they have to meet their obligations, just as the scheme as a whole does.
''Unfortunately, there are costs associated with the changes that have to be made. The company recognises that the costs associated with managing the scheme into the future will be a challenge for our shareholders - especially those with smaller properties.''
He acknowledged some shareholders might struggle to appreciate the need to change, but the scheme had an ''obligation'' to meet the expectation of the wider community and new legal requirements.
Although some shareholders had expressed concerns over the changes, the name change, water supply agreement and constitution were approved by 97% of shareholders at a recent meeting.
A signed water supply agreement with all shareholders was a legal requirement, and if shareholders on the 2300ha scheme did not sign up to it, they would be cut off from the irrigation scheme, he said.
The Waitaki Irrigators Collective (WIC), which represents five irrigation schemes in the district, would work with KDIC to help it improve the scheme's efficiency, but WIC policy manager Elizabeth Soal said other ''older schemes'' could also expect to have stricter conditions imposed as and when their consents were reviewed or renewed.
''This reflects the complex nature of freshwater policy and management in New Zealand in the 21st century. The KDIC's consent can be taken as a signal that schemes will need to modernise and become more efficient in their water use, or else reliability of water supply for irrigators will be put at risk.''
Ms Soal added that a $272,000 study, partly funded by the Government's irrigation acceleration fund, and which aimed to investigate the possibility of expanding and improving irrigation on the south side of the Waitaki River was now at the half-way point, and final results were expected to be available in November.
Kurow farmer Slim Slee said farmers were not happy about the cost increase but they had no choice but to accept it.
''The rates have doubled just for water testing and studies and all sort of things that are out of our control. It's nothing to do with the actual water scheme itself.
''We will be taking money out of other things to pay those rates.''
Mr Slee said. Although he was aware of one ''hobby farmer'' who would leave the scheme, others were prepared to ''grin and bear'' the cost increase.
