Inquiry Into Irrigation Of Mackenzie Country

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30278, 2 November 1963, Page 10

Inquiry Into Irrigation Of Mackenzie Country

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, November 1. Water resources and requirements for all future purposes in the Mackenzie Country will be investigated by an inter* departmental committee before any further hydro-electricity development is undertaken in the area. The committee considers that its inquiry will influence the whole development of the Mackenzie Country, both social and economic. Both the Waitaki Catchment Commission and the Tussock Grasslands and Mountain Lands Institute have expressed concern to the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council about the future of water supplies in the Mackenzie basin area. Farmers and the Mackenzie County Council have also made representations to the Minister seeking the development of irrigation.

The chairman of the committee now set up to investigate, the whole question of water utilisation in the area is Mr D. B. Dallas, District Commissioner of Works, Christchurch.

The order of reference for the committee is as follows: — To inquire into the water needs of farmers in the Tekapo-Pukaki interfluve, and on the left bank of the Tekapo, particularly as they may be affected by the proposed diversion of waiter from Tekapo to Pukaki. A reasonably long-term view should be taken. To reconcile farming needs with those of the New Zealand Electricity Department, having regard to human factors and to the economics of the two uses, and also to the possibility of releasing more water to farmers during the summer than during , the winter.

To ‘consider in broad terms how the farming water should be distributed.

To report on any other matters' relative .to the improvement of farming in the area, particularly in relation to water to the promotion of soil conserv- ■ ation and to the protection of the interests of the Electricity Department. Although the committee must have regard to the economic practicability of any works it may propose, it is not required to state how the money should be found, Maryburn First Issue

“While we recognise that concern is general over the whole district, consideration

is most urgent for the land lying between the Tekapo and Pukaki rivers that will be affected by the proposed Maryburn scheme,” said Mr Dallas in a letter received by the Mackenzie County Council The order of reference has therefore directed the attention of the committee to that area.

‘“You will readily understand that the first step is the assembly of a considerable amount of basic data regarding water resources and land capability, and committee members have already arranged for that phase of the study to be put in hand. It is hoped that the committee will meet again before Christmas when an exchange analysis of information will take place.” Early in the New Year the committee hoped to visit the area and, at the same time, have discussions with the representatives of the Waitaki Catchment Commission and the Miackenzie branch of Federated Farmers (to which copies of the letter have been sent), Mr Dallas said. Public Meetings Proposed “At a later stage still, when final conclusions or alternatives are under consideration, the committee would like the various possibilities to be fully explained to the people of the area at public meetings, and I propose to recommend accordingly to the Commissioner of Works,” Mr Dallas said. ‘•The task set the committee is, in reality, a phase of regional planning. While our immediate objective is related to the best use of the land and water resources of the area, the outcome will have an effect on the development of the total environment, both social and economic. I believe that it is important that those responsible for statutory planning in the area

should keep this aspect in mind.” The Soil Council’s main functions were mitigation of soil erosion, the control of water, when in excess, and the 00-orddnation of the activities of Government departments for those purposes. The Waiteki problem was one of water deficiency, which was not a function of the Soil Council unless it could be considered as such under clause 4 of the 1959 amendment: “Assistance of persons whose land may be used to fuller capacity by the control of water in relation thereto.” “As an outcome of the negotiations in Wellington, I was asked by the Commissioner of Works to set up in Christchurch a district inter-depart-mental committee to investigate the whole problem of water utilisation in the area,” Mr Dallas said. “In due course a report on the findings of the committee is to be submitted to the commissioner in Wellington.” The letter advised the Mackenzie County Council that the committee, which met for the first time on October 23, comprised the following:— Chairman, Mir Dallas; Messrs N. S. Coad (Commissioner of Crown Lands, Christchurch), E. Stonyer (farm advisory officer (economics) Agriculture Department, Christchurch), G. G. Natusch (investigating engineer (power design) Ministry of Works, Wellington), and E. R. L. O’Toole, (resident engineer Ministry of Works, Timaru). "Considerable Benefit*' Mr B. W. Perrin, county dark of the Mackenzie County Council, said this evening that the council believed the provision of water for farming purposes in addition to hydro-electric needs would be of considerable benefit. The council would assist the committee in its investigation wherever possible. The secretary of the Mackenzie branch of Federated Farmers (Mr D. M. France, of Glennock Station) said runholders who could be served by water races between Lake Tekapo and Ohau recently held a special meeting and decided that they wanted provision for irrigation. He and the president of the branch (Mr J. I. Innes, of tHaildon) said that, while they had the fullest confidence in the committee, they were a little disappointed that Federated Farmers had no direct representation. Runholders in the Mackenzie basin felt that a longterm view should be taken of the water usage in ail streams.

Emphasis should be placed on the Tekapo-Ohau proposal. Runholders would require their biggest usage of water in the summer months, when the load on the New Zealand Electricity Department was at its lowest. “We want water distributed in irrigation and stock water races, with immediate priority to be given to the latter, and provision for irrigation a long-term view,” said Mr Innes.

Runholders welcomed the co-operation of the Electricity Department. He added that a special meeting of runholders would probably be convened to discuss the chairman’s proposal before the quarterly meeting of the branch in January. Commenting on the reaction of the Mackenzie County Council to Mr Dallas’s proposals on the utilisation of water in the Mackenzie basin, the secretary of the Waitaki Catchment Commission (Mr J. Nicol, of Kurow) said that the commission would do everything in its power to see that the maximum use was made of water. “The commission has a duty to the farmers in the water-starved Mackenzie area,” he added.