Hunter Downs Irrigation Proposal
The Hunter Downs Irrigation Scheme is a community irrigation proposal developed by the South Canterbury Irrigation Trust and Meridian Energy.
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The scheme would potentially irrigate up to 40,000 hectares of a total area of 60,000 hectares from the Waitaki River stretching as far north as Otipua. It would provide opportunities for land use diversification, including horticulture, sheep, beef and dairy.
South Canterbury Irrigation Trust (SCIT) was convened by the Mayors of the Timaru, Waimate and Mackenzie District Councils to develop sustainable irrigation solutions for South Canterbury.
The scheme would involve diverting water from the Waitaki River into an irrigation intake near Stonewall, at the existing site of the Morven Glenavy Ikawai Irrigation Scheme intake, 35km downstream of the Waitaki Dam. From there water would be pumped approximately 140m for delivery to farms using a pumping station, canal and pipe system.
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