IrrigationNZ congratulates irrigators on 100% compliance

Media Statement

2 September 2016 – for immediate release

IrrigationNZ congratulates irrigators on achieving 100% compliance

IrrigationNZ congratulates the irrigating community for achieving Environment Canterbury’s 100% target for water metering across Canterbury.

“Canterbury farmers need to be congratulated for becoming fully compliant or committing to the process of full compliance with the Water Measuring National Regulations. Given public concerns shown earlier this year, this is a huge achievement by the primary sector in a very short timeframe and comes at considerable cost to farmers,” says IrrigationNZ CEO Andrew Curtis.

“Farmers have invested more than $50million over the past four years in the capital costs associated with water metering. This includes alterations to headworks, telemetry as well as the water meters themselves. Another $2-$3million per year is being spent on third party costs managing and sending the data to Environment Canterbury and another $1million on the monitoring costs charged by the regional council. These are not insignificant costs,” says IrrigationNZ CEO Andrew Curtis.

“This investment shows how committed farming community is to managing its resource responsibly. This is huge given most town water supplies in New Zealand do not individually meter their water,” says Mr Curtis.

IrrigationNZ

IrrigationNZ is the national body representing irrigators and the irrigation industry. Its mission is to promote excellence in irrigation throughout New Zealand. IrrigationNZ launched the SMART Irrigation Programme in 2014 which stands for Sustainably Managed, Accountable, Responsible and Trusted Irrigation.

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