Media Statement
6 January 2015 – for immediate release
Re-run of 2012-13 summer underscores need for alpine-fed storage, says IrrigationNZ
Water restrictions for irrigating farmers look set to follow a similar pattern to the 2012-13 summer, says IrrigationNZ,
when drought conditions in the North and South Island wiped more than $1billion dollars from the NZ economy.
“This summer once again highlights the need to fast track alpine-fed* water storage infrastructure in both the South and
North Islands. Despite the focus upon irrigation development over the past five years, New Zealand has made very limited
progress in this space,” says IrrigationNZ CEO Andrew Curtis. “We have modernised and improved our irrigation
distribution systems but have failed to invest in alpine water storage to our detriment.”
(*Alpine-fed water storage refers to dams and water storage lakes that are replenished by rainfall and snowmelt within
our alpine environments in contrast to streams and rivers that are fed by foothills rainfall. Alpine rainfall is more
consistent and plentiful than foothills and plains rainfall, hence its suitability to provide reliable water supply).
‘We’re losing sight of the prize that reliable alpine-fed irrigation water storage could bring to both the environment
and economy. Certainty of water supply allows investment in SMART irrigation technologies that greatly improve nutrient
management and production. There are also direct benefits from storage including the augmentation of summer river flows
or being able to release flushing flows that cleanse rivers of summer algal growth,” says Mr Curtis.
Irrigation restrictions are now widespread in Canterbury and Otago, with Hawke’s Bay dry but maintaining flows.
One of the worst hit areas is South Canterbury with the Opuha Dam, a foothill-fed river catchment, facing unprecedented
water shortages. Opuha’s lake level is of major concern, says Opuha Water Supply Ltd CEO Tony McCormick. “Our situation
and outlook have not improved and the lake level continues to drop steadily. Today the lake is at 31% full. We are
currently on 25% irrigation restrictions and expect to move to 50% restrictions next week when the lake hits another
‘trigger’ level of 25% full. Our current predictions suggest that the lake could be fully depleted by the end of
February.”
Mr McCormick says while the initial problem was a lack of stored water, the situation is now being compounded by very
dry conditions being experienced across the South Canterbury region.
The Ashburton River is on full restriction which has forced the Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation Company to place
shareholders on 85% allocation. However the Rangitata River is currently flowing at a healthy level due to good rainfall
in the alps over the New Year, says Jess Dargue, ALIC scheme manager.
While some North Canterbury rivers are on restriction, Amuri Irrigation Limited CEO Andrew Barton says both the Waiau
and Hurunui, both alpine rivers, are maintaining flows so scheme restrictions look unlikely in the near future.
While there are no restrictions on major irrigation schemes in the Lower Waitaki at the moment, all fed by the Waitaki
River, an alpine river with storages built for hydropower, Elizabeth Soal, Policy Manager of the Waitaki Irrigators
Collective says partial restrictions affecting independent irrigators are in effect on hill-fed tributary rivers
including the Hakataramea, the Maerewhenua and the Awakino. There are also restrictions (some full restrictions) on some
of the South Canterbury Coastal streams and waterways, including parts of the Waihao River, Buchanans Creek and the Sir
Charles Creek.
In Otago, supplementary permits off the Kakanui River have ceased with the first minimum flow alert being active, and
the river is approaching its absolute minimum flow, which would mean full restrictions kick-in.
Parts of North Otago are extremely dry, with the area receiving a third of the historical average rainfall since August.
“For us down here, it's much, much drier than in 2012-13. Some are saying it's the driest it's been in ten years, so the
restrictions will bite even harder,” says Elizabeth Soal.
While the Hawke’s Bay is dry, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Group Manager Resource Management Iain Maxwell, says that’s
not unexpected for the region at this time of the year and irrigation water availability is being maintained.
“River flows are holding well and there are no irrigation bans on the main rivers so farmers are still able to
irrigate,” he says.