A recent Government funding boost for the Manuherekia Catchment Group (MCG) towards further ongoing work to continue improving freshwater quality has been welcomed.

Last week Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard was in Omakau to announce the $1.9 million funding, and to view the work of the group’s wetland work at Thomsons Creek.

Co-chair Andrew Paterson said the group’s new general manager Clare Hadley had done a lot of work in a short space of time, and was regularly in contact with MPs about their projects.

Clare moved from Invercargill where she was the chief executive of the Invercargill City Council prior to settling in Central Otago.

“The Manuherekia Catchment Group has been attracting good political interest and there really has been a lot of interest in the Thomsons project,” she said.

The new funding would go towards a wide range of community projects in the catchment including the establishment of recreation trails and river care.

Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard (left), Central Otago District councillor and MCG group member Tracy Paterson and Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan attend a recent day at the Thomsons Creek wetland, in Omakau. PHOTO: Supplied

The Auripo (Poolburn) Gorge willow removal was top of the list, following extensive flooding in the Ida Valley last year, that had become an environmental issue, Andrew said.

“It’s all about looking to help and improve the water quality from all of the catchment, but obviously we can’t do everything. We are just focusing on those things that will make an impact.”

Co-chair Anna Gillespie was instrumental in securing the MCG’s successful Exemplar Project bid that saw $2.9 million in Jobs for Nature funding secured for the Thomsons Creek project.  

The installation of a barrier preventing trout and perch from moving upstream where they pose a threat to Galaxiids has been a stand-out success for the group.

"The approach around getting that wider community [involvement] — not just the farming community — that will be helpful for other catchments."

Set up in 2011, MCG has always been about farmers leading the way and working together to find solutions for the catchment. 

Understanding water storage and the minimum flows in the Manuherekia River have also been explored, and in 2021 the Manuherekia Catchment Management Plan was developed.

The plan brought together the work of the community and how they, as a collective, could work together to manage water flows, making sure the environment was well protected and continue to enable a thriving community. 

It then formed part of the overview document for the catchment combined applications for replacing deemed permits, and it is hoped will be incorporated into the Otago Regional Council’s controversial Land and Water Plan when it is notified.