Canterbury plan for $150m irrigation scheme

Electricity generator Meridian Energy, in a joint venture, plans to build and operate a $150 million scheme in coastal South Canterbury.

The scheme could irrigate up to 40,000ha of land as far north as Timaru with water from the Waitaki River, the Otago Daily Times reported.

Meridian and the South Canterbury Irrigation Trust want the river's minimum flow lowered by a new water-allocation plan to accommodate the project.

The scheme, on the north side of the river, is likely to create up to 400 on-farm jobs and another 1200 jobs in the community.

Meridian and the trust announced the plan yesterday.

Meridian chief executive Dr Keith Turner and trust chairman Don McFarlane said it could be the last chance for widespread irrigation in the area.

The water would be pumped up about 140m and delivered by canals and pipes under pressure to between 200 and 300 farms.

Meridian would hold the water rights, plan, build and own the scheme.

- NZPA