19 Aug 2009

Mayor confident Tarras water scheme will go ahead

7:26 pm on 19 August 2009

The findings of a year-long study into the feasibility of a water scheme in Central Otago have been released, with the mayor confident it will become a reality soon.

The report was commissioned by the Tarras Community Trust and looked at the viability of taking water from the Clutha River to provide irrigation for about 8000 hectares of land around Tarras.

Mayor Malcolm MacPherson says the plan is technically feasible and able to be funded.

Mr MacPherson says the community supports the project and it is realistic to suggest that the scheme could be operating by 2012.

The study found it will not have a significant impact on the Clutha River and its ecosystems, he says.

Mr MacPherson says it is now up to the community and their advisers to find appropriate funding.