Welcome to the April 2019 edition of On-Stream
As well as updates from your rural liaison team, this month we share the freshwater management units for Otago and how this fits in with the review of the Water Plan.
We also wanted to give you a friendly reminder that it is now only one year until contaminant discharge thresholds for nitrogen, phosphorus and E.coli leaving open or tile drains or paddocks will come into place. If you can't meet the thresholds, you will need to apply for a resource consent. Find out more here.
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| Steps towards update of the Water Plan agreed |
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ORC Councillors voted earlier this month to adopt five Freshwater Management Units (FMUs) for the Otago Region, including the Clutha Mata-au, Taieri, North Otago, Dunedin Coastal and Catlins units, as well as five sub-units, or “rohe” (see map below). An FMU is a water body or multiple water bodies that ORC deems as the appropriate scale for setting freshwater objectives and limits.
The Otago FMU boundaries were created using the concept of ki uta ki tai (from the mountains to the sea) and a holistic environmental management approach.
The next focus for each FMU and rohe community is to meet and agree on local values that sit alongside national values for human and ecological health, and to agree on water quality and quantity limits. ORC will facilitate this process in each FMU and rohe in stages. This process will start with public meetings for the Arrow (May 27) and Cardrona (May 28) communities to check whether the values they identified during consultation a few years ago around minimum flows still represent how they want their waterways to be managed. (Details of meetings to follow next month.)
Each area, with its own values, objectives and limits will then essentially form a chapter of the new Water Plan. This means there will be a tailored approach to water management instead of the current “one-size-fits-all" approach for water management across the region. Read the full news story
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Rabbit reminder
Just like wild rabbits, Easter bunnies are invading Otago at this time of year. Keep both p-hop-ulations down by enjoying a sweet treat with your neighbours while planning a collaborative approach to rabbit management. Rabbits don’t understand property boundaries so working with your neighbours is the best form of control. Planning needs to start now for winter rabbit management. To get the best results and to keep numbers down, rabbit management needs to be ongoing. Click here for more information about management options or call us on 0800 474 082 if you are seeking specialised advice on your particular situation. |
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| Updates from your Rural Liaison Team |
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On 2 April I attended a day organised by Craig Simpson, Otago Regional Coordinator for the NZ Landcare Trust. In attendance were the 12 Landcare Trust coordinators from throughout NZ, the trustees of the Landcare Trust and members of the Pomahaka Water Group.
A key purpose of the day was to highlight innovative measures being undertaken in South and West Otago by the group to reduce the risk of water contamination of streams and waterways though sediment, nutrient and bacterial mitigation. These measures are in addition to the usual good management practices that have gradually become the norm, such as sensible grazing of winter fodder crops and riparian management.
Two specific measures discussed were constructing wetlands near the bottom of a tile drain, and installing sediment traps on a catchment-wide basis. Associated water quality testing has proven that both measures are performing well. These measures act as an additional precaution and help give peace of mind.
Under the guidance of Lloyd McCall, we also visited the Pomahaka Water Group native plants nursery. The group has set up the nursery specifically to provide native species for fenced-off riparian margins that have proven to grow well in Otago conditions. Plants are being propagated and distributed on an advance purchase basis.
ORC supports measures of this nature, which demonstrate the values and strength of working as a group.
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I have gone off script this month with a wee plug for North Otago as I was up that way a few weeks ago and caught up with a few folk from the area. It sounds like there are projects that could benefit from our ECO Fund so I really encourage you to get in contact with us or check out the information on our website if you would like to find out more. The next funding round is open 1-20 May.
We are getting through the recruitment process and hope to have news for you soon about your new Rural Liaison and Support Advisor for the area.
Back to South Otago! DairyNZ are holding a field day near Milton on 30 April, with a focus on good management practice – find out more here. Hope to see you there.
Also a reminder wherever you are that this is the time of year to think about emptying your effluent ponds before Gypsy Day.
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I attended the Beef + Lamb Waitahuna Stream monitoring workshop at the end of last month. Although the weather was awful, we still managed to make a visual assessment of the physical stream bed and banks, and returned indoors to identify some macroinvertebrates, such as mayflies, dobsonflies and amphipods.
We were lucky to have Amanda Valois, a freshwater ecologist from NIWA, run us through the SHMAK (stream health monitoring assessment kit) tool, which is available to purchase from NIWA. Whether you are interested in on-going monitoring or just want to expand your knowledge, why not gather some neighbours and contact Beef + Lamb NZ to arrange a workshop in your neck of the woods.
Congratulations to Middlemarch sheep and beef farmers Lynnore and Andrew Templeton for being the outright winners at the 2019 Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards held in Dunedin on 5 April. Read more about the Templetons. ORC was delighted to present Clydevale Dairy farmers Stephen and Annabel Crawford (pictured below) with the ORC Quality Water Management Award on the night.
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We are currently recruiting for the North Otago role and look forward to making an announcement soon!
Feel free to contact any of the other members of the rural liaison team in the meantime, until we have someone in this role. |
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Annual Plan – priorities for 2019-20
Last year, with your help, we set our 2018-2028 Long-term Plan. We’re now heading into year two of our plan. The work we do benefits everyone who calls our beautiful region home, so it’s important you know what’s happening. You can find out about our four main priorities: water, climate change, urban development and biodiversity by clicking here. |
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Deemed permit expiry: ORC’s preparedness
You may have seen some media discussion on where things are at for ORC in advance of the anticipated volume of incoming consents as we come closer to the 2021 deemed permit expiry. Here’s Sarah Gardner, our Chief Executive, on where we’re at. Find out more |
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Rural recycling
AgRecovery, who provide safe disposal of unwanted agrichemicals, and the recycling of empty containers, drums and IBCs, have a new drop-off site at Taieri, and other sites coming soon at Tapanui, Cromwell and Alexandra. These sites provide a safe and environmentally sustainable alternative to burning or dumping these items. Find out more |
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Otago Civil Defence Plan
Floods, fires, earthquakes – Otago has a complex hazardscape and being ready for whatever comes next is a key part of building a resilient community. Otago Civil Defence and Emergency Management have released their draft plan for public comment. Find out more |
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What's coming up?
30 April - DairyNZ field day on good management practice at Milton.
27 May - Arrow catchment water values discussion
28 May - Cardrona catchment water values discussion
For a full list of ORC meetings click here. |
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Feel free to forward this email to anyone who might like to read it. If you have been forwarded this email and would like to subscribe, please email us at water@orc.govt.nz.
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