Farmers push case for more water

Farmers may refuse future investment in Canterbury if the Central Plains Water (CPW) scheme fails, a major shareholder warns reports The Press. The $409 million irrigation scheme was dealt a blow this month when hearing commissioners signalled the likely rejection of plans to build a dam in the Waianiwaniwa Valley, near Coalgate, holding 290 million cubic metres of water. CPW shareholder Trevor Hamilton, of Dunsandel, said Canterbury could be in the "too hard" basket for some farmers if water supply remained uncertain. "At the end of the day, (farmers) aren't the losers. The economy and the country are the losers because we'll just invest somewhere else." The region would be an "absolute dog" without water for irrigation. "With the current nervousness around water, we would probably make a decision to invest in areas that relied on rainfall rather than the Resource Management Act supplying us consents for water." The CPW scheme could put "real value" into non-irrigated land, Hamilton said. He was keen to convert a forestry block adjoining his property for dairying. "Without Central Plains, it's a no-brainer. That land will never be productive." Federated Farmers North Canterbury president Chris Sundstrum said Christchurch would be the biggest beneficiary of a water scheme."If we're going to get the amount of opposition that we get to water, Christchurch won't grow. Whether people like it or not, most of its income comes from agriculture or servicing agriculture." Farm profits had dropped rapidly in the past 50 years and increased production was essential, he said. The CPW scheme was forecast to boost the region's economy by $647m and create more than 2500 jobs. Canterbury Chamber of Commerce chief executive Peter Townsend said water storage was inevitable.  "If we don't have stored water available, it's definitely going to be an inhibitor to economic growth in Canterbury."