29 Oct 2010

Irrigation scheme company seeks more money

1:55 pm on 29 October 2010

Central Plains Water company is seeking to raise more money to continue with the consents and appeals process for the giant irrigation scheme it's planning.

The company has been granted consents to extract water from the Rakaia and Waimakariri Rivers to irrigate up to 60,000 hectares of farmland.

But 10 of the more than 2000 original submitters have lodged appeals with the Environment Court.

Chairman Pat Morison says Central Plains hopes it can resolve the outstanding issues by negotiation with the other parties, without having to go through the Environment Court process.

It is seeking to raise more than $3 million from existing shareholders to pay for the ongoing consents work.