By GORMAN, Paul PUBLIC BRIEFINGS * Tomorrow, 5.30pm-7pm, Rolleston Community Centre. * September 1, 2.30pm-4pm, Our City, corner of Worcester Boulevard and Oxford Terrace. * September 1, 6pm-7.30pm, Riverside Church Hall, Kaiapoi. * September 2, 6pm-7.30pm, Woodend Community Hall.

WATER BATTLE SITES Central Plains Water scheme: involves taking water from the Rakaia and Waimakariri rivers and storing it in a reservoir in the dammed Waianiwaniwa Valley. The water will be used to irrigate 60,000ha bounded by the rivers, SH1 and the Malvern foothills.

By GORMAN, Paul When a fight over water breaks out, the battleground is usually the Resource Management Act. But can the act contain this rush for liquid gold? PAUL GORMAN reports. .

By BRISTOW, Robyn A proposed multimillion-dollar irrigation scheme in North Canterbury has been delayed. The scheme is based on Lake Sumner and the south branch of the Hurunui River.

By GAMBLE, Warren After a series of legal setbacks, Central Plains Water (CPW) has won an appeal giving the giant irrigation scheme priority to water from the Waimakariri River.