CIF Project Summary: Waihao Downs Irrigation Scheme
Grant No: 09/04
Last updated: 28 August 2009
Contact details
Name of Applicant Group: Waihao Downs Irrigation Limited
Contact person: Paul Harrison
Address: Vale Terrace, Waihao Downs, Waimate 7977
Telephone: (03) 689 2824, 0274 200 755
Email: valeterrace@xtra.co.nz
Project details
Status: In progress
CIF funding: $93,000
Total project funding: $185,000
Proposed start date: 2009-07
Proposed finish date: 2013-06
Region: South Canterbury
Project description
The project will establish a project management process for Waihao Downs Irrigation Limited that will mange the generation of investor and community support both financially and socially for the development of the Waihao Downs Irrigation Scheme.
The issue/opportunity
Waihao Downs Irrigation Limited realise that our community needs to adapt to climate change for the future. The drought risk to the eastern regions, which are already drought prone, is expected to increase with severe droughts expected to occur at least twice as often by the 2080’s. To ensure sustainability and increased productivity of our land for our future families we must fully utilise all the resources available to us irrespective of the high capital cost. One of these resources is water.
The context/background
The Waihao Downs Irrigation Scheme will provide irrigation water to 6,800 hectares of farmland within a larger command area of around 14,000 hectares in the Waihao basin, west of Waimate. The proposed area to be irrigated covers 43 properties. At the time of applying to the CIF the scheme was waiting to hear the outcome of its resource consent application.
The scheme comprises of two possible intakes from the Waitaki river with a water distribution system that pumps water up pipelines to the top of the terrace and into the Waihao basin.
The scheme will either utilise the existing Morven/Glenavy irrigation intake and open race for an alternate pump supply from the Waitaki river or it will utilise an alternative intake design based on pumping supply directly from the Waitaki river below Pub Road at Ikawai
The irrigation system will be fully piped and pressurised from the pumps and will be automatically controlled to match irrigation demand. There will be no open races and therefore no by-wash. This scheme is a totally new scheme, however as mentioned above may utilise and share the resources of the existing Morven/Glenavy irrigation intake to access water from the Waitaki River if appropriate.
Methods
Our project management process will include the development of a business plan, governance training for the Directors, preparation and promotion of an investment proposal and promotion of the irrigation scheme to the wider community.Contact for Enquiries
Senior Project Adviser
Natural Resources Group
MAF Policy
PO Box 2526
WELLINGTON 6140
Telephone: (04) 894 0632
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