Locals are encouraged to participate in an Otago Regional Council (ORC) meeting taking place in Wānaka next Wednesday (October 11).

ORC chair Gretchen Robertson said three local conservation groups are taking part in the public forum, plus there will be presentations by specialist ORC staff on new and emerging technology and a regional conservation status report for bat species.

“There’s a diverse range of subjects being considered at this meeting which will give people a flavour of the wide-ranging environmental work ORC undertakes for communities,” she said.

The meeting is at the Lake Wānaka Centre, starting at 1 pm.

Gretchen said the Wednesday meeting will begin with representatives from three groups speaking in the public forum: Wai Wānaka, Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society and the Wānaka Catchment Management Group.

She encouraged anyone else who wants to speak to apply and come along.

“We value people speaking to us on environmental projects or issues they’d like to raise - it’s your time to share your successes, ideas and challenges with us.” 

The public forum will be followed by a half-hour presentation by ORC staff on new and emerging technology, before a second presentation on a new report by ORC on the regional conservation status of pekapeka or bats – the second in a series of threat assessments for Otago’s indigenous species.

Separate opportunities to engage with ORC will take place at the same venue next Monday (October 9) - one from 11am-2pm and another from 3pm-6pm.

The ORC will host two public drop-in events on the proposed direction of the ORC’s Land and Water Regional Plan.

Read more: ‘Significant’ shift for Otago water protection

Gretchen said the plan determines how Otago’s lakes, rivers and streams are managed, and she encouraged members of the public to attend and talk with councillors and staff about the draft plan.

PHOTO: Wānaka App