Otago Regional Council (ORC) is encouraging communities across Otago to participate in the drafting of its new Land and Water Regional Plan, with drop-in sessions in Central Otago next month.

ORC policy and planning manager Fleur Matthews said the new Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP) would affect aspects of operations of councils and contractors, land developers, farmers and irrigators, landfill operators, and ORC’s own work in its environmental and engineering operations.

“The eventual LWRP will be a cornerstone document for future environmental protection across all Otago, which is why it’s so important communities come together now and engage so their views can help shape the plan,” she said.

“Now’s the time to chart a course for Otago’s water bodies, be it lakes, rivers, streams or wetlands.” 

In addition to the in-person drop-in discussions across Otago, there would be two online meetings, one focussed on Queenstown residents and the other region-wide, plus an online feedback form available until November 6 for Otago residents.

“This’ll be the first time where specific rules and regulations for certain activities applying to Otago’s land and waterways will be proposed, with the potential for these new rules to impact on communities across Otago,” Fleur said.

“Safeguarding our waterways will over time benefit everyone, providing greater opportunities for communities, industry, recreation and tourism alike. Everyone benefits from having healthier lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands.” 

She said the strategic direction of the draft LWRP would be a “significant shift” from the current water plan, which focused primarily on water and contained little direction on

managing the land which contributes to freshwater issues, such as water quality and ecosystem health.

“The objectives and policies of the [current] water plan focus on balancing resource use against protection of those resources and is out of step with the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020.”

In particular, Te Mana o te Wai was the central focus for freshwater management that the

LWRP would implement. This was a water-centric approach, with its first principle being protecting the health and well-being of freshwater and ecosystems, ahead of water use and economic considerations.

“Our relationships and consultation with Tangata whenua, mana whenua and communities is the foundation for implementing Te Mana o te Wai into Otago’s LWRP,” she said.

The drop in discussions will enable people to discuss all the topics that the plan will be managing, from activities occurring in wetlands and beds of lakes and rivers, the disposal of solid waste, discharges of agri-chemicals and other liquids, wastewater discharges including sewage, greywater and industrial waste, stormwater discharges, dams and weirs, flood protection and drainage.

“These aspects will all be increasingly important for the decision-making over the life of the new plan,” she said.

The draft LWRP would be publicly notified by June 30, 2024, when the plan would be opened for formal submissions. 

Details of the Central Otago drop-in sessions are:

Ranfurly October 9 (11am-2pm Maniototo Golf Club);

Cromwell October 17 (11am-2pm and 3pm-6pm Cromwell & Districts Presbyterian Church);

Millers Flat October 18 (11am-2pm and 3pm-6pm Millers Flat Hall);

Omakau October 27 (11am-2pm and 3pm-6pm Ophir Peace Memorial Hall).