Waimakariri Irrigation Limited

To; The Rural Community

April 1999

Distribution Race Construction

Our original intention was to start widening and deepening the water races that will distribute irrigation water to Shareholders farms before Christmas but, because of the extremely high demand for stockwater over the summer, this was not possible.

Three North Canterbury contractors started widening these races and installing culverts in late February and excellent progress as been made with Races 1,4,5,6 and 7 now having been completed and Races 12 and 8.2 being started today. In addition, Doug Hood Limited have finished the placing of fill for the buttress along the terrace below Browns Rock and will be moving rapidly to complete the remaining portions of the irrigation canal covered by their contract.

Two recent good rains have lessened the demand for stock water and we now plan to accelerate the widening and deepening of selected races by increasing the number of machines involved in this work. Our aim is to complete the remaining portions of the irrigation canal covered by their contract.

Two recent good rains have lessened the demand for stock water and we now plan to accelerate the widening and deepening of selected races by increasing the number of machines involved in this work. Our aim is to complete about 10 to15 kilometres per week at this stage, with the probability that we will increase the number of units after assessing progress in a few weeks.

In all cases, invariably, all those farmers through which the irrigation races will pass be approached by either Phil Reid (025 354 311), Bill Stephenson (025 226 4093) or Bill Allison before the work is started. They will discuss any particular problems that you are concerned about. In all cases they will also give some indication as to when the machines are likely to arrive to work on your place. For obvious reasons they are concentrating this "contact" work in the areas where construction is about to occur, so if you have not been approached it is probably because work on your property has not yet been scheduled.

Over the last few weeks we have found that where leakage is excessive it is sensible to move to another race in the area and start work there while the leaking race is sealed. Thus, we tend to be moving the machines more often than we or the contractors would prefer. Obviously, such a flexible strategy can lead to machines being moved at short notice and we certainly understand that too little notice can be seriously inconvenient in some cases. At this still relatively early stage of the work we do your race. This letter is to ask for your understanding in this respect.

On a broader scale, if you believe that your situation will present particular difficulties (large or specimen trees, tight access, insufficient room, etc), please contact one of the above as soon as possible so that appropriate solutions can be discussed.

We are frequently being asked to guarantee that water will flow this spring. We understand the concern underlying these requests and would love to be able to respond in the affirmative. However, there are far too many unknowns over which we have no control to give such an assurance, but rest assured that we are doing absolutely everything in our power to ensure that the scheme is completed on schedule.

As of now the most difficult part of the race, the buttress section along the terrace, is about completed and excavation and sealing of the canal can begin whenever appropriate. The settling ponds are almost finished and the intake structure is progressing well. There remains approximately 150 kilometres of water race to be enlarged but provided the stock water situation allows us to maximise our efforts here, this should not present any problems. It is fair to say that at this time we remain confident, barring serious unforeseen circumstances, that our schedule will be maintained.

Don Young
Chairman