Week 6 - People

The social assessment for the central plains irrigation project covered the following social effects:

• water takes from the Waimakariri and Rakaia river systems
• an impoundment structure and reservoir flooding a large part of the Waianiwaniwa Valley  canals and other headwork structures taking water from the two rivers and distributing it to up to 60,000 ha of farm land
• intensification of land use on farm land previously not irrigated by ground water (around 30,000 ha)
• downstream changes to watertables, water quality and waterways
• a construction phase of three years requiring a workforce of up to 200 people.

The SIA methodology is shown below along with the conclusions of the assessment:

As management of the social impacts was required, prior to the construction commencing, CPW needed to establish a scheme Community Liaison Committee. This included:

• Community representatives from among the residents of Hororata, Coalgate/Glentunnel, the Waianiwaniwa Valley, Sheffield, and Darfield
• a community/economic development officer from the Selwyn District Council
• recreational representatives
• scheme shareholder representatives
• a CPW community liaison officer.