The Otago Regional Council is holding its next meeting in Cromwell this week, and the public is encouraged to come along.

With a new chair - Hilary Calvert, from Dunedin, and two new Dunstan ward councillors - Neil Gillespie and Matt Holyer, there will also be a strong public forum, including University of Otago staff talking

about health issues arising from air quality in the region.

Later in the presentation Clyde School will be presenting findings from their studies of Clyde township air quality.

The council is looking at a review of the Otago Navigation Safety Bylaw (2020) which assists with the regulation of ports, harbours, waters and maritime-related activities across the region.

The meeting will also see councillors appointed to the new portfolio governance structure, and various committees, such as the Otago Central Lakes Regional Deal Negotiation Committee.

Matt, who resides in Queenstown, has been nominated as a new representative on that committee, along with Gretchen Robertson as former chair of both the ORC and Regional Deal committee.

The council will also decide on representatives for the Otago Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group Joint Committee and the Otago Regional Transport Committee.

A notice of motion has been put forward by Cr Michael Laws on the establishment of a working party to review the ORC’s ‘Strategic Directions 2024-2034’ document, to ensure alignment with the focus

of the newly elected governance team.

The proposed working party will be made up of Michael as chair, Kevin Malcolm, Hilary and Kate Wilson.

The ORC’s Strategic Directions 2024–2034 has been developed to look at redefine the vision for Otago, including:

Effects of the changing climate on the region’s indigenous biodiversity, the ability to grow food, and the intensity and frequency of storm and flood events;

Environmental degradation, decreasing access to freshwater and other pressures on natural resources, which is set to increase;

Inflation driven by geopolitical instability, overseas conflicts, rising energy prices, a tight labour market and the ongoing effects of Covid-19;

Effects on the region’s businesses through changing consumer preferences;

Opportunities provided through technological innovation, increased digital connectivity, and changes to the way we work;

Benefits from strengthening our partnership with mana whenua;

A change in government, RMA reform, water services reform, and other changes from central government.

On Thursday, councillors will be making several site-visits to organisations and projects around the district, including Falls Dam near Naseby, the lookout at Blacks Hill, the Little Valley Bridge in

Alexandra that is being upgrade in January 2026, along with the Wai Wānaka Alpine Lakes Forum.

 The Cromwell meeting is at The Gate starting at 10am, running until about 2pm.

 The agenda is now available on-line at orc.govt.nz, under Your Council/Council meetings and Agendas and the meeting will be available live on ORC’s YouTube channel.