Irrigation

Buddle Findlay's lawyers have extensive experience in the irrigation sector, having advised various irrigation schemes, water user groups, and other industries that rely on water, on planning and policy matters, resource consent applications and proceedings, Public Works Act, equity capital raises, rights issues, senior and subordinated debt financing arrangements, corporate and structuring advice, third party contractual arrangements, procurement strategy, construction contract documents and construction disputes.

Overview

Buddle Findlay has deep and broad experience in the irrigation sector having advised on a number of irrigation schemes at various stages of development.  Our clients in relation to these schemes have included the scheme operators themselves, irrigators, key stakeholders, bankers and investors.

Our experience covers:

  • Commercial, structuring and corporate finance
  • Resource management
  • Banking
  • Governance
  • Property
  • Construction and construction related disputes.

We have a strong working relationship with key investors in the sector including most major banks and local government bodies.  In addition, we frequently provide supporting or specialist advice to local legal advisers or in-house counsel in relation to irrigation schemes, leveraging the institutional knowledge that these advisers have and allowing for the provision of legal services more efficiently and inexpensively.

We also have extensive experience advising various schemes (such as Opuha Water, Central Plains Water, Mayfield-Hinds Irrigation), industry groups (Irrigation NZ, Federated Farmers of NZ), water user groups (Dunsandal Groundwater Users Group, Kyeburn Water Users Group) and other industries that rely on water (Fulton Hogan and Canterbury Aggregate Producers Group) on planning, policy and consenting related matters.



Work highlights

Acting for Central Plains Water

on all aspects of that scheme including resource consent applications and proceedings, initial equity capital raise, numerous debt, priority and other commercial arrangements, rights issues, senior and subordinated debt financing requirements, procurement strategy and construction contract negotiation and documentation

Acting for North Otago Irrigation Company

on its equity capital raises (co-advised with a local legal services provider), construction contract negotiation and documentation, and construction disputes

Advising Hunter Downs Water

on its 2017 construction equity raise, water user agreement, contractual arrangements with third parties, initial legal due diligence for financiers and preparation of construction contracts and associated documents

Advising Greater Wellington Regional Council

on Public Works Act aspects of the Water Wairarapa proposed irrigation project and structuring and capital raising issues

Advising Pioneer Energy

on investment and structuring issues in respect of the Dairy Creek Irrigation scheme

Advising Kurow-Duntroon Irrigation Company

on its 2017 equity capital raise (co-advised with a local legal services provider)


Our team

Mark Odlin

Partner, Christchurch

Mark specialises in corporate and commercial law and advises on a range of financial, commercial and corporate law matters, including…

Email Mark Odlin

Willie Palmer

Partner, Christchurch

Willie specialises in commercial litigation including construction, insurance and insolvency law. He has broad experience in…

Email Willie Palmer