Farmers urged to register for water quality forums

Otago farmers are being urged to get in now if they want to contribute to discussions about the future of water management in the region.

The Otago Regional Council (ORC) is to update farmers on proposed changes to the Otago Water Plan at a series of upcoming water quality forums.

The forums will be held in Cromwell on Tuesday September 13 (Presbyterian Church Hall); Oamaru on Monday September 19 (Kingsgate Hotel Brydone); and Balclutha on Thursday October 6 (South Otago Town and Country Club). All three forums run from 11am to 2.30pm.

ORC associate director communications Peter Taylor said the initial response to the council’s request for registrations had been positive.

“However, there are still many farmers who haven’t registered for the forums, whom we are sure will want to attend,” Mr Taylor said.

“We are especially keen to hear as soon as possible from those wanting to attend the Cromwell and Oamaru forums, as both these events are coming up soon.”

ORC will be presenting the proposed rules that will give effect to its Rural Water Quality Strategy at the forums. These will cover the council’s approach to water contaminants in runoff, drainage, and leaching (known as non-point source or diffuse pollution).

The strategy includes information on how changes to the Otago Water Plan are likely to affect water quality and farming practice throughout the region.

Mr Taylor said farmer attendance at the forums was important because the changes are designed to address water quality issues in a way that works for local people and the environment.

This included using conditioned permitted activity approaches to encourage farmers to develop their own systems for managing discharges, rather than having a prescriptive consenting regime forced on them.