IDABURN IRRIGATION SCHEME

Otago Witness, Issue 4028, 26 May 1931, Page 51

IDABURN IRRIGATION SCHEME

WORK TO BE COMMENCED. Reference was made by the Minister of Public Works (Mr W. B. Taverner) on Thursday to the question of irrigation in Central Otago. He stated that a communication had been sent to Mr W. A. Bodkin, the member for Central Otago, announcing that Cabinet had decided to proceed with the Idaburn scheme. This scheme provides for the construction of a concrete dam in the Idaburn stream below the Oturehua railway station, and for the necessary race works. The scheme, which is estimated to cost about £6OOO, will provide water for 600 acres of irrigable land, all of which has been signed up for by the settlers to whom water will be supplied. Though only a small proportion of the land held by the settlers will receive irrigation, the scheme will allow of the carrying capacity of the dry sections of the holdings to be built up. It is intended to commence the work immediately, and for this purpose the men who have been engaged on the Poolburn dam, which is now practically completed, will be transferred to Oturehua. The Minister stated that a large amount of information regarding various irrigation schemes had been collected lately, but the question of available finance affected the position acutely. It was intended, however, that the general situation with regard to irrigation in Central Otago would have the consideration of Cabinet at an early date.