Irrigation reliability flagged as concern

The head of the body representing New Zealand's irrigation interests says the past year has been one of progress for the sector - but has also generated a few concerns.

Irrigation New Zealand chairman John Donkers used his chairman's report at the annual meeting in Amberley on October 17 to review the year.

There had been much activity in the ''land and water space'' throughout the country, most of which was positive but some which was of concern, he said.

Severe weather events experienced throughout the country had raised questions about managing risk for irrigators.

Drought and low river and groundwater flows had highlighted the need for more water storage to provide better reliability of supply.

Widespread gale-force winds had caused millions of dollars of damage to irrigation equipment and could delay the start of irrigation for some.

''Irrigation New Zealand has a role in ensuring the lessons from this event are learned so that the impact of a similar future event will be mitigated,'' Mr Donkers said.

In the past year, regional councils had begun processes to give effect to the Government's national policy statement on freshwater, to manage water quality and allocation.

''Irrigation NZ has some concerns about the inconsistent outcomes of these processes across the country.''

In some regions the process had been ''open and transparent'', but in others it was ''less clear'', putting irrigators and those developing irrigation in ''a very difficult situation''.

Irrigation NZ was ''generally pleased'' with the Land and Water Forum's final report but would have liked to see it go further in providing irrigators with greater long-term certainty of water supply, he said.

Highlights were the support shown for the sector through various Government grants: $35 million from the Irrigation Acceleration Fund, the allocation of $80 million for irrigation investment and the set up of the Crown Irrigation Investment Company to manage those funds.

As well there had been a higher level of collaboration between agricultural sector representative organisations to achieve better outcomes for farmers and irrigators, he said.

''The establishment of Primary Sector Land and Water Partnership by Federated Farmers is a significant initiative, which aims to provide a united position for agriculture in respect of the significant land management and water issues that are likely to confront farmers in future,'' Mr Donkers said.

The partnership is chaired by Federated Farmers national board member and retiring Irrigation NZ board member Mid Canterbury-based Ian Mackenzie. Mr Donkers thanked Mr Mackenzie, who stepped down at the meeting, for his contribution over the past four years.

Mr Donkers was re-elected chairman for a further term.

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