An important piece of water infrastructure for the Ashburton District will be open to the public on Sunday, so people can see a new $17 million fish screen on the side of the Rangitata River before it is submerged under water.

The fish screen has been installed over the past year at the RDR’s intake at Klondyke and is especially designed to keep young salmon, trout and native fish from being trapped in the main diversion race.

Young fish that are swept into the intake are diverted by the fish screen back into the river, where they can continue their life journey.

Ashburton District Council is a shareholder in the company that owns and operates the RDR and councillors visited the fish screen this week, ahead of the open day.

RDR chief executive Tony McCormick showed them how water would enter the canal and pass through the fish screen, which is made up of seven cylindrical screens that rotate, and a portion of flat screen. The screen and supporting concrete infrastructure will all be under water when operational.

Councillors also saw where the young fish, including eel, would emerge and be diverted back to the river.

As part of the monitoring process once the screen is operational, some fish will be caught at the out-take and assessed to ensure they have safely made the journey.

Water is diverted from the Rangitata River for three irrigation schemes, two hydro-electric power stations and for Council’s stockwater network.

Mr McCormick said nearly $3m had been spent on engineering design and management, which included computer modelling to ensure the fish screen would work as expected.

The open day on Sunday 10 April is free and runs from 10am until 3pm, but people need to book tickets at Eventbrite. The site is 6km from the start of Klondyke Terrace off Montalto Road. Allow 30 minutes drive time from Mayfield.