‘Exports could suffer’

Press, 29 June 1982, Page 13

‘Exports could suffer’

PA Wellington A failure to go ahead with the Clutha high dam project could cost New Zealand $5O million in increased exports of stone fruits, says the general manager of Turners and Growers Exports, Ltd, Mr D. H. Turner. Mr Turner said that after speaking with stone fruit powers in the area, he was concerned about the loss of potential development for orchardists.

The potential of land in the Ernscleugh area would not be realised if the high dam was not built, because that potential depended on the irrigation possibilities opened up by the dam. “'There is a very real export potential for peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries, and plums grown in that area,” he said. “We have calculated that potential at $5O million a year, at today’s values. This covers the 5000 acres of flat in the

Ernscleugh area." Mr Turner said that jobs would be created for about 300 people as orchard staff, and a further 3000 positions would be available for seasonal labour. The low dam proposal did not provide for irrigation in the same way as the high dam. Water could be pumped from a low dam reservoir, but pumping was both an expensive and unreliable means of getting water to the area, he said.