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Selwyn's Water Races
History
Selwyn District has some 2,000 kilometres of water races
spidering across the plains from from various river inlets or 'headworks'.
The various schemes began in the 1870s and 1880s and have since
been added to and, in some places, retired or lost. A good
history of Selwyn's water races up to 1990 is contained in the
book In the Shadow of the
Alps.
Purpose
The races exist to supply drinking water to stock animals and,
in rare cases, to rural households. Their secondary purpose is
for emergency fire-fighting use.
Using them for irrigation is not allowed except in certain
circumstances for which an irrigation right must be first
obtained from the council.
Cleaning
Cleaning and maintaining water races is a constant chore that
all landowners are expected to play their part in so that the
water network keeps flowing.
All races must be cleaned by 31 December each year,
except those surrounded by crops which must be cleaned
immediately after harvesting or by the end of May at the latest.
Click here for contractors
who clean water races in Selwyn.
Forms and information
Application forms and information about water race requirements
are contained in the following links:
