SFF Project Summary
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| Final Report [PDF 219K] | |
| Quarterly Update: | October 2006 |
| Updated: | 01 February 2008 |
The potential for the development of high value land uses in the Hurunui and Waipara areas is very high, because of its climates and soils. Existing irrigation-based developments demonstrate this. However further development has stalled through lack of a reliable water supply. Some streams are also under considerable stress due to water abstraction.
This project aims to contribute substantially to socio-economic development of the Hurunui and Waipara areas by kick starting the development of an affordable and reliable water supply system that protects environmental and cultural values and, where possible, relieves the stress on the smaller streams.
The purpose of this project is to develop, investigate to a pre-feasibility level, and recommend for more detailed work, the combination of one or more water development options (storage, hydropower, irrigation) that collectively permit the sustainable management of in-river flows of the Hurunui while maximising irrigation development within a viable and consentable scheme that meets the needs of the Hurunui District. To achieve this, this project will:
- Satisfy the Working Group that the recommended options can be developed and managed to meet developer expectations.
- Show that such a project is consistent with environmental and cultural values, including the demonstration that in-river flows can be managed on a daily basis within consentable bounds.
- Provide evidence that a water development project is an essential element of the socio-economic development of the Hurunui and Waipara areas.
The main output of this project will be a report describing one or more recommended water development options that have been designed and costed in sufficient detail:
- For the purpose of deciding whether to proceed towards obtaining resource consents, and the financial planning associated with this.
- To enable full scoping of a project to assess in detail the environmental effects of the development options.
It is expected that this project will be followed by a second project that investigates potential environmental effects and mitigation options in greater detail, refines the development options through negotiations with all key stakeholders and leads into the resource consenting process.
Quarterly Update: October 2006
Progress against contract milestones:
1. Strategic water supply and demand analysis Completed
2. Bulk water supply infrastructure development options Completed
3. Water reticulation and delivery infrastructure development options. Completed
4. Preliminary assessment of likely outcomes: agricultural, hydropower, environmental and socio-economic. Completed
5. Define the envelope of water management and development options in terms of costs and net environmental effects Completed
6. Identify key stakeholders, their interests and positions, and develop options for negotiation Completed
7. Develop sustainable development options through the managed disclosure of options and negotiations with key stakeholders Completed
8. Update the preferred water management and development concepts to reflect information gained and agreements reached Completed
9. Undertake appropriate further technical design to enable an assessment of environmental effects to be made, and revise cost estimates and the assessment of expected socio-economic and environmental outcomes accordingly Target completion Jan 07
10. Prepare SFF project reports Target completion February 07
The scope of the proposed scheme has been modified as a result of the submissions received during the earlier consultation programme. The Project is now moving from a desktop study to field assessments to identify any engineering environmental or capital cost fatal flaws. A consultant has been retained for this work and fieldwork will be undertaken in the New Year
Consultants have been retained to assist in the preparation for Ecan’s hearings on the NRRP and continue to represent the Group’s interests at hearings.
June 2006
Progress against contract milestones:
- Strategic water supply and demand analysis - Completed
- Bulk water supply infrastructure development options - Completed
- Water reticulation and delivery infrastructure development options - Completed
- Preliminary assessment of likely outcomes: agricultural, hydropower, environmental and socio-economic - Completed
- Define the envelope of water management and development options in terms of costs and net environmental effects - Completed
- Identify key stakeholders, their interests and positions, and develop options for negotiation - Completed
- Develop sustainable development options through the managed disclosure of options and negotiations with key stakeholders - Completed
- Update the preferred water management and development concepts to reflect information gained and agreements reached - Completed
- Undertake appropriate further technical design to enable an assessment of environmental effects to be made, and revise cost estimates and the assessment of expected socio-economic and environmental outcomes accordingly Target - Completion July 06
- Prepare SFF project reports Target - Completion September 06
The farmer and stakeholder consultation programme concluded on 30 May 2006. It involved meetings, mail outs, a field day, and significant liaison with the media and public. It was very successful, and the formal feedback is now being assessed to refine the technical design. Further fieldwork is being planned to address issues raised in the consultation programme.
Consultants have been retained to assist in the preparation for Ecan’s hearings on the NRRP.
December 2005
(1) Progress against milestones
| Milestone | Description | Original Target Date | Comments/Progress | Revised Target Date |
| 1 | Strategic water supply and demand analysis | Dec 2003 | Consultant contract to be finalized early February. Milestone not yet commenced. | Mar 2004 |
| 2 | Bulk water supply infrastructure development options | Feb 2004 | As above | Mar 2004 |
| 3 | Water reticulation and delivery infrastructure development options | Mar 2004 | April 2004 | |
| 4-10 | As per original application |
(2) Other Progress made during the quarter
- Compiling and issuing the “Request for Proposal” for prospective consultants.
- Reviewing and short-listing the proposals received.
(3) Report on Group Meetings/Field-days etc
No group meetings or field-days held during the quarter.
The Hurunui Irrigation & Power Trust sent a newsletter to farmers throughout the district to update them on the approved SFF support and progress to date.
(4) Dates of upcoming field-days etc
The Hurunui Irrigation & Power Trust has a planned farmer meeting for the week 16th to 20th February (date to be confirmed).
(5) Newsletters & Media Coverage
(6) Expectations for progress in the coming quarter.
- Consultants to be appointed by 9/2/04.
- Stage One project completion target date is now 30/4/04 (to the end of milestone 5).
