A meeting
between Central Otago leaders and the Minister of Agriculture
yesterday about support for irrigation development was
"encouraging" Central Otago Mayor Malcolm Macpherson says.
"It was a useful discussion and we're happy that David Carter
understands our case - he is a farmer, of course - and that
he understands the value of irrigation in this district," Dr
Macpherson said.
The Central Otago District Council had asked for the meeting
to plead the case for Government support for a cluster of
Central Otago irrigation schemes.
Several new schemes are planned, along with upgrades and
expansions of existing schemes.
"We're also happy that he's acknowledged it's important to
the Government that productivity be increased and of course,
these schemes and enhancements to schemes would lead to
that."
The meeting was the start of ongoing talks between the two
parties about the issue "and that's what we had in mind, so
we're encouraged by that", Dr Macpherson said.
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