Contact Energy’s Manuherikia Landscape and Visual Amenity Plan (LVAMP) is progressing ahead of its July 1 deadline.

As a requirement of its Roxburgh Dam resource consent obligations, Contact must develop a landscape and visual amenity plan to manage the impacts of its operations.

The plan is re-assessed every five years and engagement with stakeholders has begun for its next iteration.

Contact Energy environmental advisor Jenny Bullock said the company was working with local community groups, key stakeholders, mana whenua, and had engaged an independent landscape architect.

“The LVAMP purpose is to identify the areas and actions to address landscape and visual amenity effects from Contact’s generation activities. 

“This includes the excavation of sediment from the riverbed in the Alexandra reaches, including the Linger and Die area.”

The reassessment was an opportunity to build greater connections with community groups working in this area, alongside potential to elevate native biodiversity through actions such as indigenous planting and control of invasive weed species, she said.

“Following initial consultation with key stakeholders, we will create a draft plan and then we will seek input from the wider community. We’re aiming for a first draft to be available in late January 2025.’’

Past work to comply with the Otago Regional Council resource consent obligations had been carried out by Wilsons Contracting.

In early 2023, 73,000 cubic metres of gravel and sediment from the Manuherikia River near Galloway Bridge and the confluence with the Clutha River at Alexandra was removed.

The Manuherikia River alongside the Linger and Die reserve in Alexandra. PHOTO: The Central App

Sediment was stockpiled and trucked to designated disposal sites (such as Dry Gully) and some material from river beds was processed and used in building and roading infrastructure maintenance and construction.  

The Central App will keep readers updated about the LVAMP for the Lower Manuherikia as information on the plan becomes available.

Read more: Central Otago, Gore district councils unified on water services

Read more: Toxic algae warning at Butchers Dam

Read more: Freshwater gold clam spread to South Island could be devastating

Have a story to share?

Contact [email protected]