Big job to secure Marlborough’s ‘new gold’

Questions of water quality and reliability will be a thing of the past for the Starborough Farming Co following the construction of an irrigation dam in Seddon in Marlborough.

The dam will occupy four hectares of land and will hold 170,000 cubic metres of water when it is completed next month.

Starborough Farming spokesman Andrew Jones said the project was necessary for the success of future crops.

‘‘It’s a big project but a sound investment for the property – the benefits will be intergenerational,’’ he said.

‘‘Water has become such a sought-after thing that you really need to invest in water sources to be reliable.

‘‘It’s a big investment, and one we have carefully considered.’’

Jones cited the unpredictability of the adjacent Awatere River as a major factor in the dam’s development.

Water drawn from the river for use in irrigation typically con- tained sediment which disrupted the flow from sprinkler to crop, he said.

The fluctuating river water levels also contributed to the decision to ensure a constant supply of water through the dam.

‘‘We’re trying to take control – it does cause a lot of anxiety when you see the river dwindling,’’ Jones said.

‘‘The Awatere is prone to high levels of turbidity which can be impossible to pump.

‘‘We believe this is the only way forward for our future of farming property.’’

Jones described the project as a ‘‘group effort’’ from Marlborough businesses – with engineering by the Davidson Group and construction by Gill Construction.

Gill Construction project manager Reuben Gill noted the size of the project. ‘‘This is up there as one of the bigger ones in Marlborough,’’ he said.

‘‘It is a big backup – it’s a real lifeline if other water sources are unavailable here.’’

Gill Construction construction manager Roger Earl said dams around the 80,000cum mark were the norm in Marlborough.

He said the company had ‘‘three or four’’ more dams in Marlborough in the construction pipeline.

He noted the importance for growers in securing water sources.

‘‘Water is the new gold,’’ he said.

Construction of the dam was in its closing stages.

The laying of lining started last Wednesday.