IrrigationNZ encouraged by SMART irrigation for Rangitikei

Irrigation New Zealand is encouraged by the positive outcomes of the first phase of a feasibility study into SMART irrigation in the Rangitikei district.

This is being done by the Rangitikei District Council and the Ministry for Primary Industries, through its Irrigation Acceleration Fund.

“It is encouraging to see that progress has been made and that the future economic and social well-being of Rangitikei is being taken into consideration through this project,” says Andrew Curtis, CEO of IrrigationNZ. “We have seen how surety of water in dry parts of the country has benefitted the community – like in South Canterbury through the Opuha Scheme, and the same could be the case in the Rangitikei. The central funding of a project like this will ultimately benefit future generations in the district.”

IrrigationNZ is pleased that its initiatives around SMART water use have been incorporated into discussions about irrigation and water storage in the Rangitikei.

“It has been made clear at this early stage in the Rangitikei investigations that any large scale water use has to be done in a sustainable, SMART way,” says Nicky Hyslop, chair of IrrigationNZ.

IrrigationNZ has set out what SMART water use is in its website: http://smartirrigation.co.nz/

To get the public involved in and informed on the Rangitikei project, field days have been arranged as well as public meetings.

The field days are as follows:

• 22 October, 1pm, Brendon Williams’, cropping farm, Somersal Lane, Marton

• 23 October, 1pm, Andrew Totman’s, sheep/beef farm, Omatane South Road, Utiku

• 29 October, 11am, Alistair Robertson’s, dairy farm, 1155 Parewanui Road, Bulls

The community meetings are as follows:

• 3 November, 5pm Marton Golf Course, Santoft

• 4 November, 5pm, Rangatira Golf Course, Hunterville

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