Green Party ignoring Waimea’s environmental benefits

Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty has overlooked the environmental benefits the proposed Waimea Community Dam will bring the Tasman community, says IrrigationNZ Chairperson Nicky Hyslop.

“It’s unusual for IrrigationNZ to have to remind the Green Party of the environmental issues at stake here. Yes there are costs attached, but there’s a range of water quality and water quantity concerns that the dam will address. Augmenting stream flows and providing flushes to prevent the build up of algae in the river are just two of Waimea’s environmental advantages,’ says Mrs Hyslop.

IrrigationNZ is also concerned that the Green Party thinks ‘going back to the drawing board’ is a sensible option after local growers and the Tasman District Council have already invested many years of time and resources amounting to millions of dollars researching the project.

"The dam investigations have been truly collaborative, a fact openly acknowledged by all but a minority of stakeholders. They not only researched ‘the’ project but also considered numerous options and this was the best one.”

“Catherine asks why the community and region should invest in this project. IrrigationNZ is in no doubt that Waimea holds the key for the Tasman region’s future. It’s no secret that more water is needed on the Waimea Plains to maintain the current reliable water supply and large scale storage is not only the most cost effective and sustainable method of delivering water to those who need it, it’s also the most equitable way of providing reliable water. We need to remember everyone in the area will benefit from water storage; it’s not just about the growers and farmers. Research shows us for every $1 of production supported by irrigation, another $3 will be spent in the wider community,” says Mrs Hyslop.

“While the costs look high, the lost opportunity from not proceeding with this project is immense and can’t be minimised. This region is built on the back of the horticulture industry and without investment in a sustainable, long term water supply there are huge economic risks for all businesses, suppliers and employees who rely on a thriving horticulture community.”

“The Waimea Community Dam addresses the long term future of this region by guaranteeing surety of water for urban residents, commercial users and irrigators alike. It will prevent this region from being susceptible to climatic variations resulting in significant losses during a drought. The Nelson Economic Development Agency has forecast gains of $1.2billion over 25 years, that’s nothing to sneeze at and the economic gains come hand in hand with environmental benefits. While the upfront costs look steep, this is an investment which will pay off for generations to come,” says Mrs Hyslop.

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