Industry champions’ efforts honoured

Tony Banks.
Tony Banks.
Two people described as "champions'' of New Zealand irrigation have been recognised for their efforts in the industry.

Tony Banks, of Earnscleugh, and Robin Murphy, of Glenavy, were awarded the Ron Cocks Memorial Award at Irrigation New Zealand's conference this week.

The organisation's chief executive, Andrew Curtis, said the men's achievements should be celebrated as they were champions of irrigation in this country.

He made the comments in Oamaru, at the organisation's conference which was attended by more than 400 people.

The organisation is the national body which represents irrigators and the irrigation industry.

Mr Banks is the former chairman of the Earnscleugh Irrigation Company, "an outstanding leader in delivering the benefits of water to Central Otago,'' Mr Curtis said.

Mr Banks had devoted more than half his working life to the scheme, all as a volunteer.

Robin Murphy.
Robin Murphy.
For most of that 31 years, Mr Banks had also been a member of the Otago Water Resource Users Group.

He has been a director of the Clutha Pipeline Company for 15 years and a director of the Fraser Dam Company for 18 years.

Mr Banks was part of Earnscleugh Irrigation Company's negotiating team when the Government decided to divest itself of irrigation schemes in the late 1980s.

His efforts ensured local irrigators received plentiful water and sufficient funds to upgrade and modernise the scheme's structure.

"That was the bones of upgrading our scheme to ensure regular and reliable supply. Now it's probably the best supply in the country. If we can't get water out of Lake Dunstan there's going to be a lot of lights out across the country,'' Mr Banks said.

He believed the award was recognition of the wider community's efforts to secure water.

Mr Murphy is a dairy farmer who has been a driving force behind irrigation development in South Canterbury, Mr Curtis said.

He had championed and overseen several projects which improved the viability and reach of the Morven Glenavy Ikawai Irrigation Scheme and was particularly proud of the recent commissioning of the $32million Waihao Downs project.

As well as acting as chairman for Morven Glenavy Ikawai, Mr Murphy had also managed the company, as a volunteer, before Craig Evans was appointed as general manager.

He was a believer in the need to address environmental issues early on.

Developing an environmental strategy and putting farm environment plans in place for all shareholders proved to be an advantage under Environment Canterbury's new land and water plan requirements.

"The farm environment plan system to me has been absolutely tremendous. We acknowledge we haven't got everything right, but they're great assets to have as we go into nutrient planning.''

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