Meridian dangles an irrigation sweetener

By Chris Hutching

Friday 17th May 2002

Meridian Energy is offering to fund a large part of an irrigation scheme on the Lower Waitaki River as part of its $1 billion Project Aqua hydro-electric generation proposal.

The 39,000ha irrigation potential of the scheme is likely to push up farm values and is crucial to several developments in the area, such as one by Dunedin millionaire Howard Paterson to develop a new wine region on land overlooking the south bank of the river.

Meridian is prepared to fund, build, own and operate the intake structure, pumping station, and penstocks necessary to deliver water from the river level to a head pond at an elevation of 198m. This would provide a large part of the $23 million required for stage one and a further $20 million of stage two of the project.

The proposal is aimed at ameliorating objections from landowners and recreationists. Opposition has mainly come from recreational fishing interests and some farmers concerned about the effect of taking 284 cumecs out of the Waitaki's average annual flow of 360 cumecs between Kurow and the point where it re-enters the main river near the coast.

Transmission and operation of the pumping stations would be integrated with Project Aqua and Meridian's remote-control system in Twizel as well as its maintenance system.

The scheme would power up to six power stations generating 570MW or 320GWh annually.

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