Farming groups are applauding Environment Canterbury’s decision to grant resource consent to the South Canterbury Hunter Downs irrigation scheme.

The consent lasts 35 years and will allow 20.5 cubic metres of water per second to be taken from the Lower Waitaki River – enough to irrigate up to 40,000 hectares of farmland.

South Canterbury Federated Farmers President Dr. William Rolleston says the approval is great news for farmers.