Guy pledges more money for water storage study

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy on a Dargaville dairy farm after declaring Northland a drought zone in February 2013. Photo / File

The value of storage dams and irrigation to Northland's economic growth will be scoped in a study into the region's freshwater management.

The Minister of Primary Industries (MPI), Nathan Guy, who twice in two years had to declare Northland was in the grip of drought, announced at the Northland Field Days in Dargaville on Friday that MPI would back a proposed regional water study to the tune of $75,000.

Northland Regional Council (NRC) chairman Bill Shepherd said the study would look at potential demand for irrigation, identify ways to manage and store water, identify economic costs and benefits, and future infrastructure.

Freshwater, and the need to quantify as well as manage the resource, was noted as an opportunity in the recently-released Tai Tokerau Northland Growth Study. That study said water management implications went beyond agriculture or horticulture considerations, impacting on iwi, tourism, aquaculture, leisure and conservation.

"From a resource management perspective, the issue of fresh water quantity and availability has been highlighted as a significant focus during our regional plan review process," Mr Shepherd said.

The NRC's economic development agency Northland Inc has pushed for the study. As well as the MPI's $70,000 input - from $120 million the Government has allocated over the last two Budgets towards major irrigation projects - it will be funded from the NRC's Investment and Growth reserve fund.

Last year while visiting Northland's drought-stricken farms, Mr Guy encouraged the region's local governments and communities to apply to the Irrigation Acceleration Fund to help future-proof against climatic effects.

"Northland has suffered through extreme dry spells over the last two years which has reinforced the potential of irrigation and water storage," Mr Guy said.

But the Green Party said any initiatives to get more cows per hectare on Northland pasture should also make environmental considerations, such as ensuring water is suitable for swimming, a priority.

"I'm concerned that water quality will be sacrificed further by large scale irrigation, so it needs to be a key consideration when judging whether irrigation and water storage is suitable for Northland," water spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said.

Tenders are now being called for parties to carry out the study by September. Any development following the study would require investment from the stakeholders who are likely to benefit.