60 | Irrigation management company delivers Aqus Waitaki Water now provides comprehensive management services to the irrigation schemes covering 55,000 hectares. Karen Phelps RURAL SERVICES » Aqus Waitaki Water With irrigation schemes and environmental management getting more complex a new management company is helping four individual schemes to maximise their resources across Waitaki. Established on July 1, 2024, Aqus Waitaki Water is responsible for over $250M in assets and provides comprehensive management services to the irrigation schemes covering 55,000 hectares of farmland, serving 450 shareholding farming enterprises. “It’s an exercise in collaboration. In effect the schemes have linked arms and recognised they all have the same purpose and challenges and have decided to do things in the most efficient and effective way possible,” explains Andrew Rodwell, Aqus Chief Executive. The company emerged from an organic process where North Otago Irrigation Company, which had developed robust management structures as the newest and most modern scheme in the region, began supporting other local schemes that had previously operated with part-time or voluntary staff. “The irrigation industry is evolving to a point where it requires professional management both from a commercial and environmental and regulatory perspective,” says Andrew. “In order to attract high quality people you need scale.” This scaling up has allowed Aqus to bring together expertise across general management, administration, commercial services, environmental management and compliance and operational delivery. The company now manages North Otago Irrigation Company, Lower Waitaki Irrigation Company, Maerewhenua District Water Resource Co Ltd and Kurow-Duntroon Irrigation Company. All staff from these companies transferred to Aqus. The schemes maintain their boards of directors and remain responsible for key matters such as debt, insurance and capital works. The combined scale of operations enables Aqus to employ highly qualified engineers and other specialists critical to managing complex irrigation infrastructure in the safest and most efficient manner. Cost efficiency has been a significant benefit for shareholders, says Andrew. “The cost to an individual scheme, and the cost of water for shareholders, is considerably lower with Aqus managing than for schemes to manage themselves independently. For example we’ve secured a contract for the provision of electricity from one of the retail power companies and by combining together we’ve created a sufficient level of scale to procure a really attractive contract for all schemes.” He says Aqus is positioning itself as a champion for both environmental standards and the social license required for irrigation activities. “The taking of water from a river is done under a resource consent but it inherently has an element of social license,” explains Andrew. “It’s really important the community at large sees value in Your Complete Engineering Services Workshop PROUD TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT TO AQUS WAITAKI WATER 100 Ravensbourne Road, Dunedin, Ph: (03) 471-0516 www.palmersmech.co.nz for further information - Hydraulic and pneumatic service/sales/repairs/design - EWP certified / maintenance/ servicing /compliance - Full mechanical workshop and breakdown service - Full machining workshop - Heavy and light fabrication - Hydraulic hose and fittings
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=