The Otago Regional Council (ORC) will be visiting every corner of the region over the coming weeks to gather input for its Regional Policy Statement.

ORC general manager strategy, policy and science Gwyneth Elsum said the aim of the ‘Freshwater Visions’ consultation is to gather a wider variety of perspectives on water in Otago.

“We’re keen to get input from every corner of the region - the more perspectives we hear, the better.”

Under a new requirement introduced in the government’s Essential Freshwater package, the ORC’s Regional Policy Statement (RPS) must include freshwater objectives developed with iwi and the wider community for each freshwater management unit and ‘rohe’ (sub-unit).

Freshwater management units are geographic areas for managing freshwater and land use. The boundaries have been set by the ORC and enable a tailored approach rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

“In addition to being used for the RPS, the freshwater visions will also shape the new Land and Water Regional Plan we have begun working on,” Gwyneth said. 

“We’ll use these visions to help set area-specific policies, limits and rules that work for each area in Otago, and which reflect community as well as central government expectations.”

Meetings will take place across the region, including two meetings in Wanaka on November 25, from 12:30pm-2:00pm and 6:00pm-7:30pm, at the Lake Wanaka Centre. There is also an online survey for those who cannot attend in person.

Minister for the environment David Parker had set ORC a deadline of November this year to notify its new RPS, but has extended that deadline to June 2021, due to the additional consultation requirement introduced in the Essential Freshwater package.

“That’s why we’re talking to people in all of our freshwater management units and rohe about their freshwater visions this year, ahead of schedule for our Land and Water Regional Plan,” Gwyneth said.

Take part in the Wanaka meeting, or have your say online here. Call 0800 474 082 for a paper copy of the survey.

The RPS is scheduled for notification in June next year.

PHOTO: Wanaka App