$1 million for new water management initiative

The University of Canterbury and Lincoln University are responding to

calls by local authorities and businesses for more water management

specialists.

The Tertiary Education Commission's Encouraging and Supporting

Innovation Fund has awarded the two universities just over $1 million

over three years for an initiative which will encourage closer

co-operation on the management of water resources.

UC's Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Town says the initiative will

be a catalyst for research, regulatory, industry, public interest and

water user organisations to work together on sustainable water

management.

"Much of New Zealand's economic base is reliant on water. The Canterbury

region is home to 70 percent of the country's existing irrigation and

most of the remaining potential irrigable area.

"The responsible management of water resources is expected to be a top

priority in the years to come and is becoming a growing pre-occupation

for regulatory authorities and business, which are calling for specific

training and capability development," he says.

He says there is a particular need for graduates with surface and

underground water quality skills, quantity modelling and related

statistical skills.

Lincoln University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr Chris Kirk says a joint

Chair of Water Management Studies will lead the work with authorities

and industry to address specific skill shortages. Community education

will be another element of the initiative.

"Postgraduate research opportunities linked to water resource management

will ensure that the universities continue to develop relevant skills

and competencies that will lead to increased productivity and innovation

within the sector."

The joint project has support from CPIT, the Canterbury Water Cluster,

the Primary Sector Water Partnership and the Water Industries Skills

Steering Group. It has been developed in consultation with Environment

Canterbury, Canterbury Development Corporation (CDC) and the Department

of Labour.