Questions to council on scheme

A more reliable and environmentally friendly water source for the Timaru District could be supplied by the proposed Hunter Downs irrigation scheme if the district council invested, its project manager claims.

The assertion comes ahead of Hunter Downs Water Ltd’s AGM today, when it will decide whether or not to proceed with its multimillion dollar irrigation scheme for Timaru and Waimate.

Project manager Stacey Scott said the Timaru District Council informed Hunter Downs in April it would not be purchasing water shares in the scheme.

The council’s long-term plan 2015-2025 provides for upgrades to the current water network, including a new Pareora water supply pipeline at a cost of $24 million.

Timaru District Holdings made an initial investment of $250,000 for a feasibility study for the Hunter Downs Irrigation Scheme in 2014.

Scott said the council could have purchased water shares and secured a reliable water source, rather than continuing to extract water from the Pareora and Opihi rivers.

It still had the opportunity to become involved in the future, she said,

The scheme, if it proceeds, will use alpine water from the Waitaki River, and is billed by the company as being about 98 per cent reliable.

‘‘They need to look at the alpine water solution,’’ Scott said.

Timaru District Mayor Damon Odey said the council had done a lot of analysis on existing water schemes before making its decision.

In future it would look at ‘‘all the options’’, which could include water from the Hunter Downs scheme.

Environment Canterbury councillor Tom Lambie claimed the Waitaki was the most reliable river in New Zealand, while the Pareora was ‘‘typical of our hill-fed rivers’’ and very unreliable.

Scott said the council held 1250 development shares in the scheme, and indicated its requirements would be 200 litres, 300L or 400L per second - 300L would be equivalent to 1000 water shares and would cost $2.6m. However the council would have to install a treatment plant on top of that, which she estimated could cost about $20m.

She understood the council’s initial investment was to look at all water options for the region. ‘‘Hunter Downs’ contractor, Rooney Group, worked with the council during their investigation,’’ Scott said. ‘‘We can deliver town supply, and they’ve advised they will not be taking the water at this time.’’

According to the council website, the Pareora River is of particular concern to the council, especially if extreme dry weather or rain events occur more often.

‘‘Under its consent conditions, the council must maintain a minimum flow of water in the river downstream of where it takes water. When the river is very low, as during the last few months, how much water council can take reduces further.

‘‘When it does rain, it can take some time for the water to clear sufficiently to enable it to be used for supply.’’

Council communications manager Stephen Doran said it would not answer questions about the scheme before the AGM.

Councillor Dave Jack said the council had ‘‘other priorities’’. One was ‘‘the discussion around water metering’’.

Councillors were certainly aware the option was there earlier in the year, Jack said. The longterm plan was reconsidered every three years, so there would be future chances to become involved with Hunter Downs.