Irrigation Survey First

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32214, 5 February 1970, Page 24

Irrigation Survey First

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON. Feb. 4. Because it appears there is not enough water to meet the needs of irrigation and all other prospective uses, a survey must first be made, the Minister of Works (Mr Allen) told three members of Parliament who made representations today on behalf of farmers north and south of the Waimakariri River.

The request for a North Canterbury irrigation scheme was made by a deputation led by the Associate Minister of Finance (Mr Pickering). Mr Pickering said that farmers in the Oxford area

wanted an irrigation feasibility survey of about 50,000 acres, with a view to meeting increasing targets for primary production. Mr M. Connelly (Lab., Wigram), and Mr C. C. A. McLachlan (Nat., Ashburton) represented the Northern Central Plains Irrigation Committee and asked for a study of water availability, the irrigation potential, and

the economics of a scheme to irrigate about 200,000 acres between the Waimakariri and Selwyn Rivers. Mr Allen said he regretted that at this stage he was unabie to agree to the request in full. He recognised the importance of irrigation and would do what he could to assist. The first step would be to find how much water could be made available. He understood that the North Canterbury Catchment Board was already studying the water resources and needs of its district, and he believed that it was the proper body to do so. The Commissioner of Works would offer to help the board and would seek its co-operation in achieving useful results as soon as possible. At the usual rate of supply of water for irrigation the areas for which representations were made could require 25,000 cusecs. The low flow of the most convenient source, the Waimakariri River, was believed to be 1200 to 1400 cusecs. Consideration had to be given to existing stock water supplies, fishing interests, recreational uses, and the transport of waste discharges in the lower reaches.