Central Plains Water, or, more fully, the Central Plains Water Enhancement Scheme, is a large-scale proposal for water diversion, damming, reticulation and irrigation for the Central Plains of Canterbury, New Zealand. Construction started on the scheme in 2014.
The original proposal involved diversion of water, the construction of a storage dam, tunnels and a series of canals and water races to supply water for irrigation to an area of 60,000 hectares on the Canterbury Plains. Water will be taken from the Rakaia and Waimakariri Rivers.
In June 2010, resource consents for the scheme were approved in a revised form without the storage dam. From 2010 to 2012, the resource consents were under appeal to the Environment Court. In July 2012, the resource consents for the scheme were finalised by the Environment Court.
The Central Plains Water Enhancement Scheme originated as a feasibility study jointly initiated and funded by Christchurch City Council and Selwyn District Council.
The Central Plains Water Enhancement Scheme is contentious. It is opposed by community, recreation and environment groups, some city and regional councillors, and some corporate dairying interests. The scheme is supported by Christchurch City Council and Selwyn District Council staff and some councillors, irrigation interests, consultants, farming interests, and more recently, some corporate dairying interests.
Scope Canterbury Regional Council has summarised the scope of the Central Plains Water enhancement scheme as follows;Central Plains Water Trust Canterbury Regional Council Resource Consents webpage. Retrieved 6 October 2007. 'The applicants propose to irrigate 60,000 hectares of land between the Rakaia and Waimakariri Rivers from the Malvern foothills to State Highway One. Water will be abstracted at a rate of up to 40 m3/s from two points on the Waimakariri River and one point on the Rakaia River. The water will be irrigated directly from the river and via a storage system. The proposal includes a 55-metre high storage dam within the Waianiwaniwa Valley and associated land use applications for works within watercourses.' The proposed dam would be about 2 kilometres long, with a maximum height of 55 metres, with a base width of about 250 metres, and 10 m wide crest, with a capacity of 280 million cubic metres. The dam would be 1.5 kilometres north east of the town of Coalgate.URS (2006), Central Plains Water Enhancement Scheme: Assessment of Environmental Effects for Resource Consent Applications to Canterbury Regional Council, Section 3, page 3.18 , Prepared for Central Plains Water Trust, 23 June 2006, 42156547.66140 \ AEE R001C, by URS New Zealand Limited. The two rivers and the reservoir would be connected by a headrace canal, 53 kilometres long, 5 metres deep and 30 metres wide (40–50 metres including embankments).URS (2006), Central Plains Water Enhancement Scheme: Assessment of Environmental Effects for Resource Consent Applications to Canterbury Regional Council, Section 3, page 3.24 , Prepared for Central Plains Water Trust, 23 June 2006, 42156547.66140 \ AEE R001C, by URS New Zealand Limited. Water would be delivered to farmers via 460 kilometres of water races, ranging in width from 14 to 27 metres, including the embankments.Section 3 Description of the Proposed Activities , pages 3–36 to 3-50, URS (2006), Central Plains Water Enhancement Scheme: Assessment of Environmental Effects for Resource Consent Applications to Canterbury Regional Council, Prepared for Central Plains Water Trust, 23 June 2006, Project Manager; Walter Lewthwaite, Project Director; Cliff Tipler, Authors; Mark Mabin, Cliff Tipler, Walter Lewthwaite, Klaus Ohlbock, Daniel Murray, Matthew Gardner, 42156547.66140 \ AEE R001C, by URS New Zealand Limited.
A brief history
In 1991, Christchurch City Council and the Selwyn District Council, in their annual planning process, agree on a feasibility study on irrigation of the Central Plains. The two councils provide a budget and set up a joint steering committee. In 2000, the steering committee contracts consulting firm URS New Zealand Limited to prepare a scoping report. In late 2001, the steering committee applies for resource consent to take 40 m3/s of water from the Rakaia River and the Waimakariri River. In January 2002, the steering committee releases the feasibility study and seeks to continue the project.
In 2003, the Central Plains Water Trust was set up to apply for resource consents, and the Trust establishes a company, Central Plains Water Limited, to raise funds from farmers via a share subscription. In 2004 Central Plains Water Limited issued a share prospectus and the share subscription is over-subscribed. In November 2005, further consent applications for land and water use were lodged with Canterbury Regional Council and Central Plains Water Limited becomes a 'requiring authority'. In June 2006, further consent applications for land use and a notice of requirement, the precursor to the use of the Public Works Act to compulsorily acquire land, are lodged with Selwyn District Council.
In July 2007, the trustees of Central Plains Water Trust informed Christchurch City Council that they had run out of money to fund the lawyers and consultants needed for the consent and notice of requirement hearings. Christchurch City Council gave approval for Central Plains Water Limited to borrow up to $4.8 million from corporate dairy farmer Dairy Holdings Limited. The hearing to decide the resource consent applications and submissions and the notice of requirement commenced on 25 February 2008.
In September 2012, Selwyn District Council approved a loan of $5 million to Central Plains Water Limited for the design stage.
Supporters The Central Plains Water enhancement scheme has had a small but influential group of supporters, some of whom have been involved as steering committee members, trustees and company directors. The supporters have included development-minded council politicians, council staff with water engineering backgrounds, directors of council-owned companies, farmer representatives and consultants. The advancement of the scheme appears to have coincided with career moves and business interests of some of these supporters.
The initial membership of Central Plains Water Enhancement Steering Committee consisted of Councillor Pat Harrow (Christchurch City Council) and Councillors Christiansen and Wild (Selwyn District Council)Report of Central Plains Irrigation Steering Committee to Christchurch City Council Strategy and Resources Committee, 14 February 2000. Retrieved 1 October 2007. and Doug Marsh, Jack Searle, John Donkers, Willie Palmer and Doug Catherwood.Minutes of a meeting of the Christchurch City Council held on Friday 24 March 2000 The appointments had already been approved on 13 March 2000 by the Strategy and Resources Committee Central plains water enhancement steering committee: membership. Report of Allan Watson to the Strategy and Resources Committee. Christchurch City councillor Denis O'Rourke was soon added and Doug Marsh became chairperson.Central Plains Water Enhancement: Steering Committee Progress Report By Allan Watson to the Christchurch City Council Strategy and Resources Committee Agenda Monday 17 July 2000.
Doug Marsh is now the Chairperson of the Central Plains Water Trust and a director of Central Plains Water Limited. He describes himself as a "Christchurch-based professional (company) director"Trustees - Doug Marsh (Chairperson) , Central Plains Water Trust website. Retrieved 5 November 2007. Doug Marsh appears to specialise in council-owned companies. Doug Marsh is also the Chairman of the board of the Directors of the Selwyn Plantation Board Ltd, the Chairman of Plains Laminates Ltd, Chairman of the Canterbury A & P Board, Chairman of Southern Cross Engineering Holdings Ltd, a Director of City Care Ltd, a Director of Electricity Ashburton Ltd and a Director of Hindin Communications LtdAnnual Report of Selwyn Plantation Board 2004 Denis O'Rourke and Doug Catherwood, who were two of the original members of the steering committee, are now Trustees of the Central Plains Water Trust.Trustees , Central Plains Water Trust website. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
Allan Watson, who was the Christchurch City Council Water Services Manager in 1999,Update on Christchurch’s Water Supply Situation, Media Release, 21 January 1999, Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 3 February 2008. had a very important role. Watson wrote most of the reports submitted to the Christchurch City Council strategy and resources committee between late 1999 and 2003. Watson wrote the initial report to the Christchurch City Council strategy and resources committee that set up the Central Plains joint steering committee.Minutes of the Christchurch City Council Strategy and Resources Committee 13 September 1999. Watson wrote the crucial report in February 2002 that recommended that the scheme be considered feasible and that the role of the steering committee be continued.Central Plains Water enhancement steering committee - approval and funding for project continuation 18 February 2002. Watson had previously been the Malvern County Engineer for 10 years.Central Plains Water Enhancement application to the Canterbury Economic Development Fund , Prepared by Cliff Tipler, Stuart Ford, Eddie Thomas, Allan Watson, Willie Palmer, Prepared for Central Plains Water Enhancement Steering Committee, Selwyn District Council and Christchurch City Council, c/- Private Bag 1, Leeston, 5 July 2002, p 6-2. Allan Watson now works for the consulting firm GHDMy Job Space GHD Civil Draftsperson 'GHD is one of the largest multi-disciplinary management, engineering, environmental, planning and design organizations in Australasia, employing over 400 people throughout New Zealand and over 5,000 globally', Looking for Civil Draftsperson, Apply Before: 14 October 7, Date Listed: 14 September 7. Retrieved 10 October 2007. and he has publicly represented GHD as the project managers for the Central Plains Water Enhancement scheme.Sustainable Otautahi-Christchurch Newsletter , Volume 1 No 8 October 2006. Retrieved 10 October 2007.