An irrigation scheme that was finished 10 months early and $2million under budget was officially opened at Ikawai yesterday.
The Waihao Downs scheme is supplying water from the Waitaki River to 3300ha of farmland to the north. A network of 31km of pipes has been laid and 30% of the scheme has some form of booster pumping.
Thanks to the efficiency of Rooney Earthmoving's design and construction, costs for the 24 irrigation subscribers have fallen from the projected $820 a hectare to $747.
Irrigation pioneer John Kirk (the ‘‘K'' in K-line) told the large crowd at the scheme's Baylyn Pond and Pump Station that the first meeting to discuss a possible Waihao Downs project was held in 2001.
The government's call-in of all resource consent applications for Waitaki River water when Project Aqua was being debated led to a seven-year delay before consent was granted.
The Morven Glenavy Ikawai Irrigation Company (MGI) then ‘‘threw us a lifeline'', Mr Kirk said.
‘‘A little ship may well have sunk without this merger.''
Waihao Downs became a full-owned subsidiary of MGI in July 2014. Just six months later, construction began.
Mr Kirk and MGI chairman Robin Murphy acknowledged the co-operation between all parties that led to such a rapid result, and heaped praise upon Rooney Earthmoving owner Gary Rooney.
The latter said he was ‘‘thankful to play a part in this development''.
‘‘MGI allows our local community to grow and thrive.''
Irrigation New Zealand chairwoman Nicky Hyslop, who cut the ribbon to declare the scheme open, said ‘‘a huge amount of work, leadership and tenacity'' had gone in to the $32 million project.
Mr Kirk and Mr Murphy were ‘‘outstanding leaders and advocates for irrigation'', she said.