Yesterday afternoon, the duck race was a popular event at the Maniototo Irrigation Company's 30th anniversary gala day in Gimmerburn.
Stuart Paterson's duck, No 52, took first place in the event, held in a water race near the Gimmerburn Domain.
Company chairman Geoff Crutchley said up to 150 people attended the gala day, and the previous evening's dinner drew about 120. The weekend had provided an opportunity to look back at where the company had started and forward to where it was heading, he said.
''There's nothing special about 30 years, but it's useful to stop and take stock of our successes and look to the future a bit.
''There's quite major changes going on in the community about how we manage water. Community management is getting more important with [the Otago Regional Council's] Plan Change 6a.
''I don't think it will work unless there is reasonably comprehensive community structure involved _ more than just farmers. That's something we have been working on.''
He believed the irrigation company model could be adapted to a large number of catchments. As well as providing more management options, it provided communities with security, ownership and control of water.
John Bishop, originally of Oamaru but now living in Queensland, was a contractor involved in construction when the scheme was set up and he was amazed at the changes in the Maniototo.
''This was a desert when we came here in the early 1980s and now ... it's absolutely amazing.
''Everything below the water line is green. You never thought you would see mobs of dairy cows in here.''
