Federation calls for a different approach to water storage

Federation calls for a different approach to water storage

Federated Farmers believes the loss of irrigation today to farmers supplied by the Opuha Dam could be avoided in future if the Government made it easier for investors to fund water storage projects that would provide a wider network of water storage infrastructure.

“The current drought is another in a string of adverse events that tells us we need to be smarter with our resources, and the government needs to be a part of that,” says Ian Mackenzie, Federated Farmers Environment and Water Spokesperson.

“There are various pressure points in getting water storage projects across the line that the government could provide greater assistance with. “

“The cost of going through the consent process is a significant hurdle, but the public expectation that those investing and building water storage infrastructure will not only fund it, but also fund the community and environmental benefits, such as guaranteeing river flows, providing recreation opportunities and water security for the community. This means the cost to the private investor becomes a much greater hurdle. The Crown Irrigation Fund is there to help in financing some projects, and will be very useful, but that finance has to be paid back.”

“Very few significant water storage projects have ever been funded solely by private investors overseas, and it is unrealistic that we have this expectation in New Zealand. There are a whole lot of community benefits that come out of these projects at an extra cost to the developers that should be being backed by the government as part of our core infrastructure.”

“The consent conditions for the Opuha Dam have resulted in significantly better environmental flows through the current drought than would have been supplied by its natural river flows.”

“Some expectation on private investors for the opportunity to store water is fair and reasonable; however the full financial imposition on these private investors is coming at a huge cost to the greater community in lost opportunities.”

“I believe that if the government and public thought about the co benefits of contributing to some of these development projects, then the opportunity for greater co benefits could be built into water storage schemes, such as greater bio diversity habitat and recreational opportunities leading to more water storage projects getting off the ground.”

“Think about the recreational and tourism opportunities now available to New Zealanders in the Mackenzie Country as a result of the government funded Waitaki Hydro Projects.

Mackenzie explains that the country is losing billions of dollars each time we have a serious drought, whilst only storing a tiny proportion of the water that falls on our country.

“We could easily meet the current and projected demand for water if we were able to store it, but the expensive and tiresome roadblocks in the RMA are preventing projects getting off the ground.”

“Whilst there are good reasons for private investors to buy in to building more water storage, the initial investment is significant and it is more appropriate that it should be partially funded from the government as an investment into our national infrastructure, reflecting the national and public benefit,” Mr Mackenzie concluded.

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