Water quality remains a hot topic and a survey from the Otago Regional Council found an increasing number of people were concerned about its deterioration.

ORC chair Gretchen Robertson thanked the more than 1100 people who took the time to contribute to the recent survey, saying their input was crucial to ORC’s planning processes.

“These are changing times in the environmental space and it’s of huge importance to us that we get a clear steer from people across the region on what is of most significant concern to them,” she said.

Air quality, land based environments and coastal resources either remained unchanged or were improving, according to the survey, and Gretchen said as custodians of the environment, staff and councillors have a big role to fulfil in not only protecting, but enhancing the environment for everyone, whether they are using resources recreationally, or as an input toward an economic benefit.

Water quality increased as the most important environmental issue in Central Otago - from 44 per cent in 2022 to 49 per cent.

Omakau residents have become frustrated in recent weeks with their drinking water - many saying it tasted dirty and had an unpleasant smell. 

And, for those using our lakes and rivers recreationally, the Manuherekia continued to be variable, and had only been suitable for swimming half of the time this summer - at the Shaky Bridge in Alexandra.

Weekly testing of 15 samples since December showed it was currently healthy, but overall statistics showed it was only suitable for swimming 53 per cent of the time, with caution advised 33 per cent of the time and 13 per cent of the time it was unsuitable.

Cr Robertson said the survey results were “very timely” now that engagement was underway with ministers of the new coalition government.

“The results reflect the issues of concern that Otago’s communities want to see targeted and addressed,” she said.

She noted ORC had last week engaged with numerous ministers and acknowledges changes are expected, but she emphasised details on changes or any pause in regulations may take months to finalise, and then further time to implement.

“Many people will find this frustrating. But, at the forefront of these changes must be the protections around the environment, be it waterways, land use or air quality, which we all must share, but equally take responsibility for,” she said.

Cr Robertson says she “entirely endorses” recommendations from the survey around a continued focus on water quality, climate change initiatives, that there be targeted communication and engagement strategies in place and an ongoing focus to improve public transport services.