Orbus
Contact us

Tō kaunihera Your council

View page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the July 2019 edition of On-Stream

Hope you've been enjoying the crisp sunshine! This month find out what's happening in your area, get an update on deemed permits, and read some ideas from farmers on winter grazing. There's also info on whether you need a resource consent to take stock drinking water, an update on water monitoring at Lake Hayes, and you can find out which applicants to the recent ECO Fund round (ORC’s community grant scheme) were successful. 
What is happening with deemed permits? 

As you may be aware, under the Resource Management Act, all deemed permits (also called 'historic water permits' and 'mining privileges') granted in Otago under old mining laws will expire on the 1st of October 2021.

Deemed permit holders who wish to keep taking water from an Otago stream, river, lake or other waterway after 1 October 2021 will need to apply to ORC for a resource consent water permit before 1 April 2021. If you have a deemed permit, we'll be writing to you very soon to let you know what is happening, and what you need to do.

ORC has the systems and people in place to process applications and we're confident we'll have them completed on time.
 
Update on Arrow and Cardrona River catchments consultation
After successful consultation periods in May this year, ORC will be coming back to the Arrow and Cardrona communities with a range of waterway management scenarios to consider. Thanks to all of you who shared your views – we’d love to hear what you think about the scenarios so please get involved. Meetings are planned for later this year and we will be in touch soon with more details.
The Arrow River
 
Updates from your Rural Liaison Team 
Rebecca Begg – Team Leader and South/West Otago

rebecca.begg@orc.govt.nz 
027 232 0735

Did you know we have permitted activity rules in Otago for putting in bridges and culverts? This means that, in many cases, you can put them in without needing a resource consent as long as your planned infrastructure meets criteria around size and how you put it in. 

At this time of the year it's important to have a bridge or culvert across your waterways as the nature of feeding out can mean multiple crossings in a day. This tends to drag some mud into the creek when you go through, which clogs the habitat of aquatic life and can also put unwanted nutrients into the water. Putting in a culvert is one way to stop the sediment getting into the waterway and to protect the stream's health. Check here to see if your planned culvert or bridge meets the criteria to be put in without a consent.

On another note, hopefully you have got 30 July in your calendar for the Women's Enviro Evening at the Clinton Town Hall. It should be a great night with a fabulous line-up of speakers. RSVP by 26 July to libby@cluthanz.com.

And lastly, the Otago South River Care group have got a Facebook page up and going. Click here to find out what’s happening with the catchment groups in the area.
 
Bruce Monaghan – Central Otago

bruce.monaghan@orc.govt.nz
027 480 7944
 

We’ve had a few enquiries about whether you need a resource consent to take stock drinking water so we thought it would be a good time to remind everyone about the rules.

In Otago, you are permitted to take water for stock drinking and domestic use, but you cannot use this water for any other use. The rules are covered in sections 12.1.2.1 and 12.2.2.1 of the Regional Plan: Water for Otago. 

In brief, you can take water for stock drinking of a volume no greater than 25,000 litres per day per take as long as it does not have an adverse effect on the environment. If you are not sure, we recommend you contact our Consents Team on 0800 474082 or email public.enquiries@orc.govt.nz.

Find out more 
 
Nicole Foote – Strath Taieri & Central Coast Otago

nicole.foote@orc.govt.nz
027 564 7788

You may have seen photos on your social media feeds this month showing animals standing in crop paddocks – hopefully happy animals and a good looking environment! These pictures are part of the #paintabetterpicture campaign, highlighting good wintering practices in Southland. No doubt if you are managing stock on crop you've seen messaging about what to do and what not to do in managing your animals and your crop paddock. Here is a great podcast from Otago-based researcher Ross Mongahan. If you’re an expert crop-manager or not, it’s worth a listen.

Earlier this year I mentioned a workshop for the One Billion Trees initiative and National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry (for both rural professionals and land holders). We are currently working with MPI to bring this workshop to Dunedin – if you are interested in attending please email me.
 
Jason Evered – North Otago
Jason.Evered@orc.govt.nz
0272983460
I’m settling into the role and very thankful for the hospitable welcome I've received. I've been out and about with some local irrigation companies who have shown me their infrastructure and explained some of the challenges they face. 

The North Otago Sustainable Land Management (NOSLaM) group took the first delivery of 'Enviro-Folders', a joint project with ORC that helps land owners keep their important documents and information in one place. Find out more here – I’m sure NOSLaM Coordinator Rob McTague will be more than happy to hear from you.

As I travel around the area, I’m seeing some great grazing practice. I encourage everyone who is winter grazing to think carefully about how best to graze winter crops to avoid sediment and nutrients leaving the paddock and getting into waterways. For some good tips and tricks click here. 

As you'll see below, we recently released details of the latest successful ECO Fund applications. The next round of funding is in September and I'd like to get some projects funded in this area. If you have a project in mind, please visit the webpage or contact me.
 
 
 
 
In Brief
Winter grazing advice from DairyNZ
DairyNZ are working to support farmers with advice on grazing as we head through winter. Click here to watch two Southland farmer's tips on keeping their herds happy. Read more tips here.
Water quality monitoring at Lake Hayes 
On 2 July, a water quality monitoring buoy was installed in Lake Hayes. The first of its kind in Otago, the buoy was installed by ORC and University of Waikato staff, and will help to track changes in water quality in Lake Hayes. Read more
ECO Fund recipients announced
In late June, ORC approved funding for eleven community groups in the latest round of the ECO Fund. Groups from Queenstown, Cromwell and Waikouaiti were among the successful applicants in this round of funding. Read more
 


What's coming up?


30 July - Women's Enviro Evening in Clinton 
4-5 October - Otago Field Days at the Palmerston Sale Yards


For a full list of ORC meetings click here.
 
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.
 
Keep up-to-date by liking the Otago Regional Council Facebook page
Otago Regional Council
ORC Website
Copyright © 2019, Otago Regional Council

Our mailing address is:
water@orc.govt.nz

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

24/7 Pollution Hotline

0800 800 033

Call us Mon-Fri 8am-5pm

0800 474 082

Navigate
Useful resources
New Zealand Government
Privacy and Terms & Conditions All rights reserved 2026