Reliable irrigation crucial to hort sector
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says access to reliable irrigation water is essential for a thriving horticultural sector.
The establishment of a regional water entity could well be the way forward for Canterbury - and the place to debate this will be the IrrigationNZ conference in Timaru next month.
Regional community driven solutions for water supply must be delivered in a timely fashion if the Christchurch economy is to get the stimulus it needs post earthquake, says IrrigationNZ.
Building irrigation schemes using PPP's (public private partnerships), will be the focus of one of the key presenters, Greg Stanford, in the 'Building Tomorrow's Infrastructure' session. Stanford, general manager and technical and deputy chief executive of Tasmanian Irrigation will outline the Tasmanian experience across the broad spectrum of management issues related to irrigation development.
The state-owned Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd (TI) is half way through its task of developing a suite of regionally significant schemes as public-private partnerships in many of the island's regions.
Stanford will also address how TI has engaged irrigator communities, managed stakeholder expectations, handled broader public interest, managed the project development phases, managed sales, managed construction and then handled the move to operations.
This is a presentation on irrigation development 'in the round'. Find out how TI Pty Ltd synthesised into one consistent framework all the key aspects which need to come together to take a project from concept, to in-ground reality, to on-going operations.
Backing the Tasmanian infrastructure development experience will be farmer and irrigator Richard Gardener from Tunbridge in the Midlands of Tasmania. Gardener has been heading the push to develop the Midlands Water Scheme, the largest of Tasmania's irrigation schemes - a partnership with landowners, private investors, and Federal and State Governments.
Gardner manages a 2600ha farm with 650ha pivot irrigated, producing poppies, cereals, seed crops and lucerne as well as sheep meat and wool. He was a key player in the lobbying efforts prior to the 2007 Australian Federal election that resulted in $140 million being allocated to Tasmania for irrigation development.
Closer to home Hawkes Bay Regional Council chief executive Andrew Newman will outline the Hawkes Bay approach to infrastructure development. Newman's address will outline the Hawkes Bay water strategy and where infrastructure development fits, the reasons for its necessity and the risk management approach applied to feasibility projects.
Dawn Meats is set to increase its proposed investment in Alliance Group by up to $25 million following stronger than forecast year-end results by Alliance.
A day after the ouster of PGG Wrightson’s chair and his deputy, the listed rural trader’s board has appointed John Nichol as the new independent chair.
Tributes are pouring in from across the political divide for former Prime Minister Jim Bolger who passed away, aged 90.
The iconic services building at National Fieldays' Mystery Creek site will be demolished to make way for a "contemporary replacement that better serves the needs of both the community and event organisers," says board chair Jenni Vernon.
Agri advisor Perrin Ag says its graduate recruitment programme continues to bring new talent into the agricultural sector.
Entries are open for the 2026 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA).
OPINION: Ageing lefty Chris Trotter reckons that the decision to delay recognition of Palestinian statehood is more than just a fit…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly recently met someone at a BBQ who works at a big consulting firm who spent…