Hard work just begins for trust

JOHN EDENS 624201619

FOCUSED: Tarras Community Trust secretary John Morrison and chairman Peter Jolly.

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A multimillion-dollar irrigation scheme for Tarras will change the shape of farming in the district as future farmers deal with intensification.

But before that happens there is still quite a bit of work to do before the scheme, described as vital to the district, is operational.

Tarras Water Ltd trust has already spent about $275,000 on a feasability study and late last month it was granted resource consent to draw surface water from the Clutha River at a maximum rate of 4500 litres a second, to be pumped via an underground network for irrigation, communal domestic use, stock water, firefighting and light industry.

The trustees are celebrating success of getting the consent but the next step may be the hardest – raising the $36m capital that is needed.

Trust chairman and Tarras farmer Peter Jolly said everyone was relieved after getting consent.

"Everyone is very relieved and excited but at the same time it is tarnished with a little bit of trepidation that this scheme is now a reality. We now have to explore all avenues for money, whether that is government assistance or private investment.

"After the election the Government announced it would invest in infrastructure but what that means we're not too sure."

In a dream scenario the trust would like to start building the scheme by next year.

Mr Jolly, a third-generation farmer who runs Morven Hill Station, which will mark 100 years of farming this month, said water would become a major resource in the future as it became scarce.

There was never any choice but to venture forward with an irrigation scheme to keep going, he said.

Water rights on the Lindis River were over-allocated and existing permits for the river expired in 2021, and permits were expected to be reduced after that timeframe.

Running merinos on about 1930ha, he said the Tarras irrigation scheme would mean a change of farming practices.

"There will be a change in farming and young farmers will have to really step up to the plate."

Having land that will benefit from consistent rainfall and respond to it will enable farmers to intensify their stock units per hectare. In dry regions farmers traditionally run about two to three stock units per hectare, but with irrigation would have the opportunity to increase that, he said.

"People might say things about dairy farmers but I tell you we could learn a thing or two from them about growing grass," he said.

The trust expects to spend the next two to three months examining finance options before reporting back to trustees.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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