| 43 “I would genuinely estimate that the Rangitata Diversion Race’s (RDR) economic contribution to the district’s GDP would be well over $200 million each year.” T T Richard Loader RDR the ‘lifeblood of Mid-Canterbury’ The RDR diverts water from the Rangitata River into a 67km long canal (Race). Rangitata Diversion Race Management REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT We are the lifeblood of Mid-Canterbury, says Tony McCormick, Rangitata Diversion Race Management Ltd Chief Executive. While that might sound a brave and audacious claim to make, Tony ventures that you won’t find many people who would push back on it. “The nature of our business is enabling the economic wealth and activity of the district. “I would genuinely estimate that the Rangitata Diversion Race’s (RDR) economic contribution to the district’s GDP would be well over $200 million each year. If we were to fail to supply reliable water, those entities relying on the RDR, who are predominately farmers, would wither. “Behind all those farmers are the businesses providing support to them, and they would also feel the impact. The dairy industry that we have here is not viable without a reliable source of water. “Our strapline is sustainable water delivery and our mission is about reliable water supply for current and future generations and activity. But pin it on the mast, we are the life blood of Mid-Canterbury.” The RDR diverts water from the Rangitata River into a 67km long canal (Race) that starts below the gorge at Klondyke, and journeys northward across the top of the Canterbury Plains to its discharge point on the Rakaia River at Highbank. All along the Race there are offtakes of varying sizes where water can be diverted for stockwater, irrigation and managed aquifer recharge when required, with hydrogeneration along the way and at the end of the scheme. Since the RDR was constructed over 80 years ago there have been a number of enhancements but, essentially, the scheme is still doing what it was originally designed to do — delivering water for irrigation, hydro-generation and stockwater. One of the big changes has been the complexity of the control system, which enable the scheme to be run anywhere from a laptop. Owned and operated by Rangitata Diversion Race Management Ltd, the Race’s shareholders are its predominant customers, and include Manawa Energy, Ashburton Lyndhurst irrigation, MHV Water, and Ashburton District Council. “RDML’s role is to maintain a sustainable supply of water,” says Tony. “The scheme runs 365 days a year, ensuring our customers and shareholders are getting all the water they are entitled to. I have a small team of three operations staff, who manage the scheme 24/7 365 days a year, to ensure we’re bringing in as much water as we’re allowed to do under our resource consent, and that everyone is getting as much water as they are entitled to receive. There is also an asset management role where we are charged with ensuring the assets continue to provide the functionality. So that’s a maintenance and upgrade engineering role. Completing the team is a very dedicated office support. The scheme has been here for eighty years and we’re making sure it’s here for the next eighty to one hundred years.” Tony makes the point that the key to RDR’s ongoing success is reliability, especially for the irrigators, ensuring water is there when they need it. “I look at it like an insurance scheme. Customers pay a fixed fee for the water, whether it is used or not. If mother nature is kind and there’s no need for water everyone is happy. But farmers know they can push their farming systems that little bit harder and if mother nature gangs up on them they have water when they need it.” Aerial Surveying UAV LiDAR & Photogrammetry LiDAR has revolutionized the way aerial mapping and surveying is conducted. It offers a wide range of bene ts and advantages over traditional surveying methods. Using Photogrammetry, we can provide Orthomosaic 2d maps and 3d models for farm and property mapping, construction progress, stockpile volume calculations, and measurements. www.agsmartuav.co.nz Proudly Supporting Rangitata Diversion Race Management Limited Excavation & Earthmoving We deliver all services from design through to completion on all civil and rural projects. 027 431 9706 | aalpinegroup@xtra.co.nz
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