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It's been a busy month for the team with plenty of opportunities to connect with Otago's rural communities.
Earlier this month, Bex spent a morning touring around South and West Otago with ORC councillors. It was great to help get some plants in the ground at the Waipahi wetland (see below), and to see a composting barn (a stock wintering alternative). Councillors also got an update from Telford. A big thank you to our hosts and speakers for taking the time to accommodate our visit.
Bex and Nicole had a great couple of days alongside ORC consents and compliance staff, talking about management of critical source area (swales, gullies or depressions that collect or channel surface water) with NOSLaM and North Otago land managers. Over the four sessions, the ORC team covered compliance and consent themes as well as good management practices. It was great to see so many people taking part and learning about how to reduce nutrient contamination of waterways.
Bruce spent time with farmers in the Cardrona area working on cultivation and winter grazing plans for 2021 green feed crops. This was an innovative group approach with land managers marking their plans on maps, ready to implement, including identifying Critical Source Areas that will remain in grass, and buffer zones between the crops and waterways. Importantly, the group discussed the environmental benefits of a solution-focused approach.
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