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The Opuha Dam

The Opuha Dam. The experiences of my community when we accepted the challenge to harvest and store water Tom Lambie Immediate Past President FFNZ Inc. Signing of the contracts to build the Dam – was a historic day for the economic development of South Canterbury. The Opuha Dam.

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The Opuha Dam

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  1. The Opuha Dam The experiences of my community when we accepted the challenge to harvest and store water Tom Lambie Immediate Past President FFNZ Inc

  2. Signing of the contracts to build the Dam – was a historic day for the economic development of South Canterbury

  3. The Opuha Dam Has achieved enhancement of the environment - 50% of stored water ensures minimum flows in downstream Opihi River, guaranteed domestic and industry water to Timaru District, power generation and 16,000 ha farm land now has a reliable irrigation supply.

  4. Storage was our community’s solution to achieve sustainable management of our local resources while simultaneously increasing farm productivity and processing opportunities.

  5. The single biggest limitation to South Canterbury’s agricultural development has been our unreliable water supply dependent on climate variances.

  6. Farmers value water Because water widens the range of products we can grow, we can better manage for quality and quantity, and are able to professionally reach our technical capabilities as growers.

  7. Irrigation creates new knowledge The need to use water wisely and land more intensely has seen farmers involved in science and research – lysometer and paddock trials, nitrogen inhibitors, soil moisture readings, design certification and national training standards. Farmers take up technology willingly.

  8. Water is important to farming Water is an essential nutrient for plant growth, required in greater quantities than any other nutrient. While other nutrients are absorbed water continuously flows from soil to plant to air. With water restrictions plants are deficient in photosynthesis and stop growing. Water is life.

  9. The Basics for Investment • Water allocation – long term consents with flexible conditions that can reflect ET • Reliability of water supply – available when needed • Uniformity of application - across the field • Top performing equipment - pumping is expensive, we have to make every drop count • A strong work force – we need more skilled employees who are ‘happy to stay with us’ • A positive attitude-to manage the investment anxiety and the constant long term debt load

  10. South Canterbury Our region is ideally suited to the growing of onions, potatoes, corn, carrots, beans and peas. It is particularly favourable for pastoral farming. I am a dairy farmer. I can only farm because of irrigation.

  11. Irrigation does benefit Everyone A MAF survey shows that for every $1 generated on the farm a further $8.30 flows on in other transactions. Farming is one of the few ways NZ can make new money.

  12. A Lincoln University study (conservatively) showed that the Opuha Dam would boost the economy by $162m and create 171 new jobs. We are well on the way to exceeding this.

  13. More intensive agriculture and improved farm income makes for bigger and stronger rural community

  14. 10 Years On‘Tomorrow is looking good’

  15. The creation of a beautiful landscape A revitalised Opihi River, a stable minimum flow (above natural flow) because of augmentation.

  16. New Recreational Areas A 700 ha lake and a reliable river flow provides great opportunities for playing

  17. More Fish Now a nationally acclaimed fishing resource with twice as many salmon, more trout in the Opihi and a new brown trout fishery in the lake.

  18. Confident Agricultural Sector Farmers are now willing to take investment risks and develop to the capability of our land resource.

  19. The Opuha Experience is our Inspiration Central Plains, Waipara, Hurunui and Blowing Point ….. Dams of the future?

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