Govt criticised over irrigation funds

Press, 13 December 1982, Page 21

Govt criticised over irrigation funds

p.\ Wellington Federated Farmers have criticised the Government for refusing to detail funds to be made available for irrigation development, and opposed moves to change the way schemes are funded. In submissions to the Land and Agriculture Select Comnnttec studying the Public Works Amendment Bill. Federated Farmers said •■substantial increases in funds should be devoted to irrigation development projects" because of the general benefit to the New Zealand economv. ■■lt is a matter of deep concern to the federation that the Government has not

provided any confirmation to date of the funds it proposes to make available," the federation said. "Under these circumstances it is not possible to determine the rate of irrigation development which is likely to occur over the period ahead. Equally no indication has been given of the criteria to be applied to ensure that funds allocated will meet the cost of the approved schemes so that budgets are met." The bill alters the way farmers are charged for irrigation scheme water to make farmers responsible for 30 per cent of scheme headworks - a cost formerlv borne by the Gov-

ernment. But lhe federation said that while a number of proposed schemes would be advantaged under the new criteria, a number of others with high headwork costs would be “very seriously disadvantaged." The bill would mean big differences in water charges and might have the effect of denying water to farmers who would previously have been able to afford it. The old policy was more equitable. the federation said. The Government should restore the 100 per cent headworks grant and the 50 per cent off-farm distribution grant, the committee was told.