Publications List

Browse the categories below then select 'Download' for the latest PDF, or 'Read More' for related information and previous versions

• Corporate Planning and reporting
  • Long Term Council Community Plan
    Long Term Council Community Plan 2009 - 2019
    
    ORC has released its 10 year plan. It details Council's activities and sets out performance targets and financial estimates for the next decade. You can download a copy of the plan below, or contact the ORC to request a hard copy or CD.

    Read MoreDownload (PDF 3.8MB)

    
    Long Term Council Community Plan 2006 - 2016
    
    This plan covers a period of ten years. It details the activities of Council, sets out performance targets, and provides financial estimates for the ten year period. The Council produced a Long Term Council Community Plan for the period of 2006 - 2016.

    Read MoreDownload (PDF 2.2MB)
  • Annual Plan
    An Annual Plan is produced in each of the years that a Long Term Council Community Plan is not produced. It sets out the work programmes and costs for the year, and explains any variations from that planned for in the Long Term Council Community Plan. An Annual Plan was produced for the year 2007/08, and then again in 2008/09.

    Download (PDF 2.2MB)
  • Annual Report
    This details the Council's actual revenue and expenditure for the past financial year and the achievement of performance targets as set out in the Annual Plan.

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  • LTCCP Outcomes report 2006-2008
    This report provides an interpretation of the key actions and indicates some of the progress made since 2006 towards the community outcomes. As well as providing a benchmark against which future progress can be compared, it also serves as a tool to assist the realisation of Otago’s outcomes. Areas where improvement can be made are identified and it is hoped that this may assist those who can influence the future attainment of the outcomes.

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• Regional policies and plans
  • Regional Policy Statement
    Provides an overview of the resource management issues of the Otago region and ways of achieving the integrated management of its natural and physical resources. The Regional Policy Statement provides a framework within which regional and district plans sit.

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  • Regional Plan: Air
    Assists the Otago Regional Council to carry out its functions under the Resource Management Act to promote the sustainable management of the air resource.

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  • Regional Plan: Waste
    Deals with Otago's significant regional waste management issues, and provides objectives, policies, and methods of implementation in order to address those issues.

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  • Regional Plan: Water
    Considers the use, development and protection of the freshwater resources of the Otago region, the beds and margins of water bodies.

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  • Regional Plan: Coast
    Considers the use, development and protection of the coastal marine area of the Otago region.

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  • Regional Pest Management Strategy
    Ensures a regionally co-ordinated approach to addressing the impact of pests on Otago's environment. The current strategy (adopted in 2001) incorporating rabbits, other pest animals, and pest plants has recently been reviewed. The Proposed Pest Management Strategy for Otago 2006 is now open for public submission.

    Read MoreDownload (PDF 1.1MB)
  • Water Management and Allocation in the Future: A Strategy for Otago
    The purpose of the strategy is to provide direction and a common focus for policy and decision making, as well as for on-the-ground projects and initiatives which will enable better management of water in Otago. This strategy draws on the outcomes of the 2006 Cromwell Water Forum and subsequent community meetings.

    Download (PDF 0.3MB)
  • Watering the Future Forum Proceedings
    In August 2006 Otago Regional Council gathered together many of Otagos main water users to discuss future water management with representatives from Department of Conservation, Fish and Game, iwi and the ministry of Agriculture. This document covers the contributions presented at the Forum.

    Read MoreDownload (PDF 1.9MB)
• Transport
  • Regional Land Transport Strategy
    Identifies Otago's land transport needs for the next five years and sets priorities and performance targets that focus on key improvements.

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  • Regional Passenger Transport Plan for Otago 2008 edition
    Prepared in consultation with the Dunedin City Council, bus operators and the community. It is a mandatory requirement of the Transport Services Licensing Act, and specifies the passenger services to be provided in Otago, both generally and in respect of the transport disadvantaged.

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  • Passenger Services Procedures
    Sets out the policies and guidelines for passenger transport service contract tendering and registration, and the procedures for operating passenger transport services.

    Download (PDF 1.1MB)
• Natural Hazards
  • Flood Response Handbook
    A guide to the Otago Regional Council flood response procedures.

    Download (PDF)
• Civil Defence
  • Otago Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan
    The Otago Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan is one of the key tools to ensure emergency management occurs in an integrated and coordinated manner. Its purpose is to enable the effective and efficient management of all hazards within our Otago group area.

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• Research and Technical Reports
  • Groundwater
    • Groundwater Allocation of the Alexandra Basin
      This report describes the potential for the future allocation of water from the Alexandra Basin Aquifer. It is based on local knowledge, scientific evidence and monitoring information. The best way forward is to use to advantage this valuable resource but to maintain control so that over abstraction does not occur. This is a complex topic and further monitoring and review of the aquifer will continue to ensure a sustainable allocation.

      Download (PDF 1.6MB)
    • Groundwater Quality in Kingston and Glenorchy
      This report provides an analysis of groundwater quality monitoring in the Kingston and Glenorchy areas over the 2002-2003 period, as well as results of preliminary groundwater investigations by J K Lindqvist Research for the Otago Regional Council during 1996-1997. Houses in Kingston have individual wells for water supply whereas Glenorchy has a community water supply now, which is sourced from one well adjacent to the Buckler Burn.

      Download (PDF 2.6MB)
    • Groundwater Allocation of the Ettrick Basin
      This report summarises knowledge about groundwater in the Ettrick Basin. It recommends sustainable management of the Ettrick Aquifer and protection of the Benger Burn.

      Download (PDF 0.8MB)
    • State of Environment Summary Groundwater Quality
      Groundwater is a critical water source throughout Otago, particularly for domestic, community water supplies, stock water and irrigation uses. This report summarises groundwater monitoring in Otago.

      Download (PDF 0.4MB)
    • State of Environment Summary Groundwater Quantity
      This report summarises groundwater quantity monitoring in Otago

      Download (PDF 0.7MB)
  • Surface Water Resources
    • Water Resources of the Waikouaiti River December 2009
      The purpose of this report is to summarise the historical flow and rainfall records in the catchment and to provide a description of the water resources. Estimates of flood and low flow discharges are presented, as is the contribution of water from various areas of the catchment to the overall flow.

      Download (PDF 0.6MB)
    • Management Flows for Aquatic Ecosystems in the Waianakarua River
      This report investigates flows required to maintain acceptable habitat for fish in the Waianakarua River.

      Download (PDF 0.4MB)
    • Trotters Creek Minimum Flow Workshop
      A community workshop was held to work towards determining a minimum flow for Trotters Creek. For more information contact Nikki Penno on 0800 474 082.

      Download (PDF 0.3MB)
    • Manuherikia Water Resources Summary 2009
      This study presents a comprehensive quantitative analysis for the surface water of the Manuherikia Catchment during the 2008-09 irrigation season in comparison to long-term records.

      Download (PDF 0.3MB)
    • State of the Environment Report Surface Water Resources of Otago 2007
      This report provides an account of how Otago’s surface water resource is allocated and the mechanisms available to manage it. The report also details the amount of water allocated to different uses and summarises the demand on the resource in different catchments. Long-term flow and rainfall trends are also examined to assess the effects of abstraction.

      Download (PDF 0.7MB)
    • Management Flows for Aquatic Ecosystems in the Manuherikia River
      This report investigates flows required to maintain acceptable habitat for fish in the lower Manuherikia River (downstream of Ophir).

      Download (PDF 0.7MB)
    • Management Flow for the Taieri River at Tiroiti
      This report investigates the water resource of the Taieri River between Waipiata and Tiroiti and recommends a minimum flow for the Taieri River at Tiroiti.

      Download (PDF 0.8MB)
    • Management Flows for Aquatic Ecosystems in Luggate Creek
      This report investigates flows required to maintain acceptable habitat for the fish species found in Luggate Creek.

      Download (PDF 0.6MB)
    • Management Flows for Aquatic Ecosystems in the Lindis River
      The purpose of this report is to investigate the flows required to maintain acceptable habitat for the fish species of the Lindis River.

      Download (PDF 0.6MB)
    • Management Flows for Aquatic Ecosystems in Trotters Creek
      This report investigates flows required to maintain acceptable habitat for the fish species found in Trotters Creek.

      Download (PDF 0.6MB)
    • Management Flows for Aquatic Ecosystems in Waiwera River
      This report investigates flows required to maintain acceptable habitat for the fish species found in the Waiwera River.

      Download (PDF)
    • Water Resources of the Cardrona River
      The Water Resources of the Cardrona River report analyses the water resource of the Cardrona Catchment. It is essential to fully understand the natural hydrology of an area before effective and efficient sustainable management decisions can be made. This report brings together the currently available hydrological information for the Cardrona River Catchment to help in that decision making process.

      Download (PDF 1.0MB)
  • Surface Water Quality
    • Didymo in Otago: A Summary
      This report has been written to provide a summary of the biology, ecology and impacts of Didymo in the Otago context. It presents the results of a monitoring programme on the Fraser River, and photographic monitoring studies from the Clutha River/Mata-Au, Hawea and Fraser Rivers.

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    • The Effect of Irrigation Runoff on Water Quality
      This report outlines results of a surface water quality monitoring programme in tributaries of the Manuherikia, Taieri River and Waitaki River.

      Download (PDF 3.3MB)
    • State of the Environment Report Surface Water Quality in Otago
      This report summarises spatial and temporal trends in the results. Spatial analysis focuses on the Water Quality Index (WQI), Principal Components Analysis and the River Environment Classification System (REC).

      Download (PDF 1.7MB)
    • Water Quality of the Lindis and Cardrona rivers
      Between September 2005 and March 2006 a monthly water quality monitoring programme was undertaken at six sites on the Cardrona River and nine sites on the Lindis River. Water was tested for a range of physico-chemical and microbiological parameters. This report provides more detailed information to that gathered for the State of Environment programme which has been carried out since the late 1980's.

      Download (PDF 1.2MB)
    • Upper Taieri River Catchment Report
      This report presents the results and findings of the 14-month monitoring programme. Information is also drawn from the Otago Regional Council’s long-term state of the environment monitoring sites, principally those located at Stonehenge (Hores Bridge) and Halls Bridge.

      Download (PDF 2.2MB)
    • Lower Taieri Water Quality Report
      This report presents the results and findings of the 12-month Lower Taieri monitoring programme, including routine state of the environmental biological monitoring in the lower Taieri River catchment.

      Download (PDF 3.2MB)
    • State of Environment Surface Water Quality Monitoring Review 2006
      This report builds on a review undertaken in 2001 (ORC 2002), with the specific aim of assessing the suitability of existing water quality sampling sites.

      Download (PDF 0.7MB)
    • Surface Water Quality in South West Otago
      This report presents the results and findings of three water quality monitoring programmes undertaken in the Waipahi and Pomahaka catchments1 between April 2000 and May 2003.

      Download (PDF 0.7MB)
    • Surface water quality The Water of Leith and Lindsay's Creek, Kaikorai Stream, Waitati River and Carey's Creek
      To help protect water quality, the Otago Regional Council (ORC) carries out longterm water quality monitoring as part of a State of the Environment programme. To supplement this information, targeted and detailed short-term monitoring programmes are also implemented in some catchments. This report provides the results from more detailed investigations carried out in three catchments: Water of Leith, Kaikorai Stream, Waitati River and Carey’s Creek

      Download (PDF 0.7MB)
    • Lake Water Quality Annual Monitoring Summary
      Water quality is important in lakes for many reasons, primarily for sustaining freshwater plant and animals and for aesthetic, cultural and spiritual reasons. This report summarises water quality monitoring in Lakes Wakitipu, Wanaka, Hayes, Johnson and Onslow in 2007 - 2008.

      Download (PDF 0.4MB)
    • Groundwater Quality, State of Environment Summary 2009
      Groundwater is a critical water source throughout Otago, particularly for domestic, community water supplies, stock water and irrigation uses. Groundwater quality is also exposed to substances, both natural and derived from human activities on the overlying land. Otago Regional Council (ORC) manages groundwater quality in terms of its responsibility under the Resource Management Act and has been monitoring ambient groundwater quality in groundwater intensive areas throughout Otago since 1995.

      Download (PDF 0.4MB)
    • Lake Waipori and Lake Waihola Report
      In order to gain a better understanding of the nutrient status of Lake Waipori and Lake Waihola a two year trophic level investigation was carried out between October 2002 and October 2004.

      Download (PDF 1.5MB)
    • Waiareka Creek and Island Stream Report
      This report presents the results and findings of a water quality monitoring programme undertaken in the Island Stream and Waiareka Creek catchments between September 2004 and March 2005.

      Download (PDF 4.6MB)
    • North & Coastal Otago Water Quality Summary 2005
      In 2005 Otago Regional Council monitored 21 stream and river sites in the coastal and northern areas of Otago in order to assess the current state of water quality. This report summarises the results of the monitoring.

      Download (PDF 0.2MB)
    • Annual water quality monitoring summary Clutha River 2007-2008
      Between June 2007 and the end of May 2008 the Otago Regional Council monitored 29 river and stream sites in the Clutha Catchment to assess the current state of water quality. Of these sites, seven are monitored only once every three years. NIWA monitored a further five sites (Clutha River/Mata-Au at Luggate, Millers Flat, Balclutha, the Kawarau River and the Shotover River).

      Download (PDF 0.6MB)
  • Air
    • Ambient Air Quality Summary results for Otago Particulate Matter
      Ambient Air Quality summary results 2009. Summary report of air monitoring results for the 11 air monitoring stations in Otago over winter 2009.

      Download (PDF 1.4MB)
    • Ambient Air Quality in Otago, Particulate matter, 1997-2004
      This report provides a summary of the Otago Regional Council air quality monitoring programme for particulate matter, which has been in operation since 1997. It clearly identifies those towns where air pollution is a problem and where the maximum allowable PM10 level has been breached.

      Download (PDF 1.4MB)
    • Ambient NOx, SOx and CO in Otago, 1997-2004
      This report presents the results of NO2, SO2 and CO monitoring throughout the Otago region. Results from all permanent and temporary sites are presented.

      Download (PDF 0.5MB)
    • Ambient Air Quality in Otago, Particulate Matter, 1997 - 2004
      Otago air quality is generally very good. However, In localised areas, air pollution in Otago from human activity including domestic, industrial, commercial and transport sources can result in concentrations of pollutants that exceed the national ambient air quality standard. The Otago Regional Council began an air quality monitoring programme in 1997, this report presents the results of PM10 monitoring throughout the Otago region. The purpose of this report is to examine trends at the long-term sites, as well as to analyse data from short term monitoring sites.

      Download (PDF 1.4MB)
    • Ambient Air Quality in Otago, Nitrogen dioxide, Sulphur dioxide and Carbon monoxide, 1997 - 2004
      To establish the levels of various air pollutants in Otago, the Otago Regional Council began an air quality monitoring programme in 1997, which has included measurements of Nitrogen dioxide, Sulphur dioxide and Carbon monoxide. This report provides a summary of the air monitoring programme for these pollutants.

      Download (PDF 0.4MB)
    • Air Emission Inventory Dunedin, Mosgiel and Alexandra 2005
      An air emission inventory carried out for the Otago Region in 1999 indicated that domestic home heating and industry were the main sources of PM10 in Dunedin, Mosgiel and Alexandra. This report outlines the results of a revised air emissions inventory for domestic heating and industry for these areas for 2005.

      Download (PDF 1.6MB)
    • Central Otago Home Heating and Air Pollution - 2006 survey findings
      The survey looked at perceptions of air pollution levels in towns, and home heating methods during the cold 2006 winter.

      Download (PDF 0.4MB)
  • Channel Morphology
    • Channel Morphology and sedimentation in the Waianakarua River
      This report explores how the morphology and sedimentation of the Waianakarua River has changed over the surveyed periods, while providing a synthesis of the study’s results to guide management strategies into the future.

      Download (PDF 0.5MB)
    • Channel Morphology and sedimentation in the Lower Clutha River
      This report explores how the morphology and sedimentation of the Lower Clutha River has changed over the surveyed periods, while providing a synthesis of the study’s results to guide management strategies into the future.

      Download (PDF 1.1MB)
    • Channel Morphology and sedimentation in the Rees River
      This report explores how the morphology and sedimentation of the Rees River has changed over the surveyed periods, while providing a synthesis of the study’s results to guide management strategies into the future.

      Download (PDF 0.4MB)
    • Channel Morphology and Sedimentation in the Cardrona River
      Channel Morphology and Sedimentation in the Cardrona River. The Cardrona River drains an area of 337 sq km and is bound by the Crown Range to the south and west and the Criffel and Pisa Ranges to the east. This report summarises recent research by Council’s Natural Hazards group as part of its river monitoring programme into the catchment.

      Download (PDF 0.3MB)
  • Coastal reports
    • Environmental Status of The Near Shore Coastal
      This report presents a comprehensive review of the environmental status of Otago’s near shore coastal environment.

      Download (PDF 1.6MB)
    • Water quality of coastal Otago catchments Five Year Monitoring Summary 2003 to 2008
      This report summarises results from a range of water monitoring programmes undertaken by Otago Regional Council between 2003 and 2008 in north and coastal river catchments.

      Download (PDF 0.9MB)
  • Energy
    • Energy
      A High Level Assessment of the Risks and Vulnerabilities to Energy Supply in the Otago Region

      Download (PDF 2.2MB)
• Land Management
  • High Country Landscape Management Forum (2005) Proceedings
    High Country Landscape Management Forum was held in September 2005 in Queenstown. The published Proceedings document is a compilation of presentations, speech notes and transcripts from the forum.

    Download (PDF 1.9MB)
  • Environmental Considerations for Clean Streams: a guide to managing waterways in Otago (2005)
    This booklet (published April 2005) explains how to manage waterways to improve water quality, freshwater life and bank stability, as well as enhance your farm.

    Read MoreDownload (PDF 1.2MB)
  • Environmental Considerations for managing dairy effluent application to land in Otago (2004)
    This booklet (published September 2004) provides a summary of environmental issues and best management practices for managing dairy effluent application to land.

    Read MoreDownload (PDF 0.5MB)
  • Environmental Considerations for Dairy Farming in Otago (2003)
    This booklet (published May 2001, revised March 2003) aims to provide a convenient summary of environmental issues and best management practices that may affect dairy farms.

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  • Environmental Considerations for Intensive Sheep, Beef and Arable Farms in Otago (2002)
    This booklet (published April 2002) aims to provide a convenient summary of environmental issues and best management practices that may affect intensive sheep, beef, and arable farms.

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  • Code of Practice for the Management of Vegetation Burning in the Otago High Country
    Developed in association with the High Country Steering Committee, this code outlines good practice (non-regulatory) for High Country Burning.

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• Biodiversity
  • The Upper Taieri River Scroll Plain
    This publication gives an overview of the Upper Taieri River Scroll Plain, which is protected by the Otago Regional Council as a "significant wetland".

    Download (PDF 0.3MB)
• Community Newsletters
  • Dairy newsletter
    Keep up to date on our initiatives with the dairy industry and farmers around Otago. Tips to help minimise impacts on waterways and soils on your property.

    Download (PDF 0.3MB)
  • Airzone newsletter
    This newsletter contains information to help people to take steps within their household to reduce Central Otago's winter air pollution problems.

    Read MoreDownload (PDF 0.5MB)
  • Otago Wide Magazine
    The second issue of the Otago Regional Council's twice-yearly newsletter that aims to show you how the Council and the people of Otago are managing the region's natural resources.

    Download (PDF 0.5MB)
• Climate and Pasture
  Climate and Pasture Update provides a monthly summary of climate, river flow and rainfall information in Otago.

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