Irrigation lessons shared

Wairarapa councillors and representatives had hands-on experience with an irrigation project in Hawke's Bay this week to help gauge what needs to be done to make the Wairarapa Water Use Project successful.

About 20 councillors and representatives travelled to Hawke's Bay on Thursday by bus, in a trip organised by Masterton Mayor Garry Daniell.

The invitation had been extended to all councillors in Wairarapa.

Mr Daniell had been speaking to Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Peter Butler about progress on the project when the invitation had been extended. He said both areas had similar topography so it made sense to visit the Ruataniwha site.

"We were obviously taken through the process of selecting the site and some of the challenges they had in developing it," he said.

Mr Daniell said irrigation was important to the economy and it would be vital to continue the project despite imminent changes to local government.

"All over the world there are areas that benefit from irrigation," he said.

"We are reinforcing the belief we had that it would be significant in bringing further prosperity to the Wairarapa."

He said the visit had been "very worthwhile".

The Wairarapa project was progressing well.