Source: New Zealand Government
Major milestones have been reached on two Canterbury water infrastructure projects that will help strengthen the region’s resilience to drought and support economic growth, Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson says.
“Investment in water storage infrastructure is critical for our communities, farms and businesses. It’s encouraging to see significant progress being made on the Crown-supported Wrights Road Storage Ponds and the Opuha Dam,” Mr Patterson says.
“This week, Burnt Hill Storage Limited celebrated the beginning of construction of its Wrights Road Storage Ponds project. This project will deliver an additional 8.2 million cubic meters of water storage capacity, equivalent to over three Olympic sized swimming pools, improving water supply for farmers in the scheme.
“Meanwhile, Opuha Water Limited recently successfully tested a major new outlet valve at Opuha Dam as part of its wider upgrade programme. The new outlet significantly increases the dam’s ability to release excess water in advance of major weather events so that it can store flood waters. This improves flood protection of downstream communities, productive land and critical infrastructure throughout the catchment,” Mr Patterson says.
Both projects received loans last year through the government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF), with Burnt Hill Storage Limited receiving up to $15.6 million and Opuha Water Limited receiving up to $20.8 million.
These government loans form part of the total cost of each project, with the scheme owners providing significant co-investment to fund the balance. The Burnt Hill Storage scheme has an estimated total cost of $58.5 million, while the Opuha Water Ltd project has an estimated total cost of $84.15 million.
“Through the RIF, the government is investing in infrastructure that delivers multiple benefits, from supporting economic activity and agricultural productivity to improving community resilience and protecting critical assets,” Mr Patterson says.
“It’s great to see strong momentum on the delivery of these two projects, which will provide lasting benefits for Canterbury, helping the region remain productive, resilient and prepared for future challenges.”
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/22/rif-strengthens-canterbury-water-resilience/