A matter for concern
The chairman . of the farmers’ committee for the proposed Lower Rakaia irrigation scheme in MidCanterbury, Mr B. K. Cameron, said recently that the Government’s requirement that a project like an irrigation scheme should show an internal rate of return of 15 per cent ( as a measure of its suitability for construction) was worrying them. Mr Cameron said it would make proceeding with the Rakaia project more difficult (and according to another source it would rule it out altogether). But according to Mr Cameron it is hoped that other benefits that would come from such a scheme that were of equal or of even greater importance would be taken into account as well as the internal rate of return. These included the impact of irrigation on regional development and the employment of labour. Mr Cameron said that although a vote among farmers on the scheme had now been delayed from February until later in the year, planning for the scheme, which is the next major one to be undertaken, was not being slowed down. It was learned this week that an application has been made to the Water Resources Council for approval in principle of the part of the scheme which will be served from the Rakaia River. Prior to that approval being given a . preliminary economic re-> port will be prepared and that is now being done. A Government officials’
committee is now looking at distortions caused by the present official Government policy on irrigation — one of these is -the situation on the Rakaia where part of the area can be irrigated from underground supplies of water, which are not covered by the present policy. Once approval in principle has been given, it will be possible to have the Boundaries of the
scheme legally defined so that those eligible to vote in a poll on the scheme will be known and an application can be made for water rights. It is understood that a boundary between the areas that will be served by surface water and underground -CT ground water has been defined, but it is still subject to review.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19800418.2.113.2
Bibliographic details
Press, 18 April 1980, Page 16
Word Count
354A matter for concern Press, 18 April 1980, Page 16
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in