Wednesday 18 February 2026
Otago Regional Council will carry out scheduled riparian tree maintenance on drains and waterways in Lower Clutha from 19 February to 30 June 2026 to support flood protection and waterway health.
Where:
Otago Regional Council scheduled drains and waterways in:
An overview of tree maintenance locations is available on ORC’s website: orc.govt.nz/LCTree26
When:
19 February–30 June 2026.
Why:
Otago Regional Council (ORC) uses riparian tree planting as a management tool within the drain and flood protection schemes. Their root systems stabilise drain and riverbank soils, reducing the risk of mass failure.
Ongoing maintenance preserves tree structure, prevents overhanging and uprooting, and helps avoid waterway blockages, damming, and washouts — ultimately enhancing flood resilience and reducing long-term maintenance needs.
As living assets, riparian trees require regular maintenance to support their function, maintain tree health and promote longevity.
ORC engages experienced contractors to assist with the riparian tree maintenance and tree topping of the tree assets in the ORC flood control schemes and drainage networks.
For any enquiries, please contact customerservices@orc.govt.nz or call 0800 474 082.
