Council to lodge consents

The chairman of Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Wairoa sheep and beef farmer Fenton Wilson, says while the scheme offers huge opportunities, it’s not a done-deal until the consent process is complete. 

The Ruatanaiwha scheme looks to be the first to benefit from the Government’s kick-start of such projects – $80 million in the 2013/14 budget to set up a Crown company to develop regional water infrastructure, as announced recently by then Minister of Primary Industry David Carter. 

Cash is expected to begin flowing in July, the $80 million being some of  $400 million spread over five years, Carter says.

 “Most of the initial $80 million will be available for grants. This company will have low overheads and… can partner with investors to get some bigger schemes of the ground as quickly as possible. There is no set ratio of cash input by investors; every project will be different. But the Government will be a minority investor, never a majority investor.”

Reliable irrigation is critical to the Government growth strategy to lift primary exports, Carter says. Ruataniwha is a good example of projects fundable by the new scheme. 

“What has driven me to fight for this policy through the cabinet process is that I can find no example anywhere in the world where a large scale irrigation scheme has been successfully launched without the involvement of a central government,” he says.

Fenton Wilson agrees that without the prospect of government investment, getting Ruataniwha off the ground would be challenging. 

“To suggest we would do it without them would be  a step too far. I am heartened to hear John Key saying they are not chasing huge dividends from these investments.” 

Wilson says while dairying is likely to benefit from the scheme it’s not at the top of heap. Other types of farming – especially cropping – give excellent returns from the use of water. And a return to normal summer flows would be good for the Tukituki River.