Image source: https://www.orc.govt.nz/media/11399/hierarchy-of-plans.jpg
The Otago Regional Council (ORC) is in the process of developing a new Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP) - in partnership with Kāi Tahu iwi. Together, they are talking with catchment groups, industry groups and subject experts to help develop the region’s new Plan for freshwater.
This plan will include rules and limits on water and land use.
The consultation on the new plan began late last year, with visits by ORC and Kāi Tahu staff to the Upper Lakes and the Catlins communities.
Other Otago communities are now being consulted on what they value about their local waterways.
Have your say
Complete an online survey about the land and waterways in your area.
Further instructions are available HERE
Next steps
When combined with the science the council has collected and input from iwi, all these views will guide how ORC proposes to manage fresh water and the land that contributes to it in the catchment areas.
ORC will follow up in the second half of 2022 to seek views on different options for managing water and land. After that, the Council will present a preferred option for managing land and freshwater in the third round of community consultation. The preferred water and land management options for each Freshwater Management Unit* (FMU) will then be drafted into the proposed Land and Water Regional Plan document.
In late 2023 the proposed Plan will be released for public consultation. The public will be able to make a submission saying what they like about the Plan or how it could be improved.
N.B. It appears from the Hierarchy of Plans diagram above that the Otago Regional Council has chosen to adopt the policy that obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi prevail over regional and district plan-making.
* FMUs are catchments or groups of catchments that the Council will use to manage freshwater and land.