CIF Project Summary: Wairarapa Regional Irrigation Scheme
Grant No: 08/07
Last updated: 15 October 2009
Contact details
Name of Applicant Group: Wairarapa Regional Irrigation Trust (WRIT)
Contact person: Geoff Copps
Address: PO Box 920, Masterton 5810
Telephone 1: 06 370 3290
Email: geoff.copps@growwellington.co.nz
Project details
Status: In progress
CIF funding: $135,000
Total project funding: $365,000
Proposed start date: 2008-07
Proposed finish date: 2012-06
Region: Wairarapa
Project description
The Wairarapa Regional Irrigation Project is facilitating the development of a storage-based, region-wide irrigation scheme that will allow the utilisation of the high volume of water available from the Tararua Ranges in the times when the Wairarapa Valley is facing water shortages.
Like many Eastern areas of NZ, Wairarapa faces summer water shortages that place limits on the production and therefore profitability of the various land use types present in the region. Lack of reliable water is also limiting the ability for the future productive potential to be achieved. However, the Tararua ranges receive some of the highest annual rainfall in the North Island and it is this water that will be captured, stored and released via a water distribution system.
The potential command area within the Wairarapa Valley is over 50,000 ha with likely irrigation coverage of over 30,000 ha.
The issue/opportunity
The four issues that the project is addressing are:
- Environmental Stakeholder Engagement
The project must demonstrate that it can satisfy the key environmental stakeholders that it can mitigate any adverse environmental effects the scheme may cause.
By engaging with the key environmental stakeholders early in the planning process, it is believed that issues can be identified and solutions sought before the regulatory process begins. - Potential water user support
The scheme will not be viable unless there is sufficient demand for water at a price that is affordable to them and also high enough to meet the scheme costs.
To achieve the necessary uptake, potential water users will need to have the land uses and management techniques explained and demonstrated to them. There is not a widespread awareness of irrigated land use options within the Wairarapa community. - Wider Community support
It will be important that the scheme is not seen as a benefit solely to land users but that it will generate wider economic and social benefit. - Scheme Financing and Equity
It is believed that there would be benefit from having a capital structure that allows for some equity from within the region. This may be from both the private and public sectors.
The final structure will need to recognise and cater for the different investment criteria and motivations of a range of investors.
The context/background
Wairarapa, like many rural areas in close proximity to major cities, is facing pressure on productive land from residential development. To ensure the maintenance of the rural productive capacity in the face of rising land values driven by this residential demand, higher value productivity off the land is required which can only be achieved through access to reliable water.
The ability to better control production also allows the increasing quality and consistent supply demands of the marketplace to be met.
Methods
- Environmental Stakeholder Engagement
To achieve this engagement, an Environmental Stakeholder Group will be formed. This Group will be privy to draft scheme plans as they are developed and will be used as a sounding board for concepts and designs. - Potential water user support
Potential water users will be communicated with both individually and in groups via the existing channels such as farm discussion groups as well as scheme specific events such as field days and seminars.
Use will be made of examples both from within Wairarapa and elsewhere of irrigated land use success stories. - Wider Community support
All forms of media will be used to communicate with the wider community about the benefits of increased irrigated land use in the region.
We will also seek to ensure that recognised community leaders are supportive of the scheme goals. - Scheme Financing and Equity
Professional advice will be sought options for structuring similar infrastructure projects with NZ and offshore to endeavour to establish the best structure for this specific project.
Project update: June 2009
Media release: Irrigation group to seek community input
"Community engagement is the first priority agreed by a high-level governance group to oversee the development of a regional water and irrigation project which has the ability to transform Wairarapa’s future.
"Conversations with all parts of the community early on are vital to hear perspectives and ideas about water uses and values in Wairarapa, and to develop a viable and environmentally sustainable project. The group is committed to this approach," said Greater Wellington Chair Fran Wilde, who was elected to chair the group.
A series of presentations and meetings will be held with key interest groups over the next few months to provide initial information to a range of interested groups and to hear their questions, issues and views.
Ms Wilde said the purpose of any proposed project would be to future proof the productive capacity of the Wairarapa valley land, and the subsequent economic and social return through water storage and irrigation opportunities.
"It is well-recognised that the community’s rights to access quality water resources must be retained," said Ms Wilde. "We also need to ensure that any proposal does not damage the physical environment."
"The Wairarapa Regional Irrigation Trust is delighted with the impetus that this group will give the project and its wide representation will help take the project to the next stage," said trust chairman and Greytown farmer, Bob Tosswill.
The 10-member leadership group represents the three Wairarapa district councils, iwi groups, Greater Wellington Regional Council, the Wairarapa Regional Irrigation Trust and Grow Wellington.
A technical working group has been formed and the work will be co-ordinated by project manager Bruce Geden of Greater Wellington Regional Council. The next phase will build on initial investigative work carried out since 2001 by local economic development agencies and more recently by the trust.
Along with other regions in New Zealand, Wairarapa faces decreasing water availability, climate change and the increased likelihood and frequency of drought.
Preliminary studies commissioned by the trust indicate great potential for irrigating land that currently does not have access to water for that purpose. Fran Wilde said this raised exciting possibilities for exploring future diverse land uses that could contribute to economic growth and consequential social enhancement in the Wairarapa community.
Issues to be addressed by the group, technical working group and community participants over the next 12 months include environmental viability, scheme options, capital funding for any proposed project, land ownership and process costs."
The first set of meetings with stakeholders is programmed for October/November 2009 with one of the main purposes of the initial meetings being to ascertain how the various stakeholders want to remain engaged with the project on an ongoing basis.
Concurrently with these engagements work is being undertaken on assessing the economic value of increased irrigation to the wider region and also an exploration of the capital funding options applicable to this type of infrastructure project.
Contact for Enquiries
Senior Project Adviser
Natural Resources Group
MAF Policy
PO Box 2526
WELLINGTON 6140
Telephone: (04) 894 0632
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