Water is emerging as the biggest threat in the Tasman district as "desperate" growers face tougher water restrictions earlier than ever. Tasman district mayor Richard Kempthorne on Wednesday said the cost to the economy had been assessed at $100m from a 35 per cent water restriction, so a 65 per cent cut would be "significantly greater". As well as the immediate effect on crops, the water restrictions would have many downstream consequences, affecting processing industries and employment, for instance. Water restrictions were also in place in the Riuwaka water management zone and flow sharing would apply in the Little Sydney water management zone. Bush-King acknowledged a 25 per cent cut for businesses connected to the reticulated supply was going to be "extremely challenging" for many.

Source: Stuff February 13, 2019 03:45 UTC