8 Dec 2010

Central Plains Water raises more money from farmers

1:20 pm on 8 December 2010

The Central Plains Water company says it has received more financial support from farmers for its planning large-scale irrigation scheme in Canterbury.

The company has had to raise another $3 million to fund it for the next two to three years, in addition to the $10 million the resource consent process has cost them.

The company was granted consents in October to extract water from the Rakaia and Waimakariri Rivers to irrigate up to 60,000 hectares of farmland between the two rivers.

It is still trying to reach negotiated agreements with two parties opposing the scheme

Central Plains chairman Pat Morrison says farmers were asked to put their hands in their pockets again to cover the cost of appeals and prepare for next phase of the scheme.

He says there was nearly 100% uptake of shares, which means it can complete the consenting process and move on towards development.