ORC won't be voting 23 October on whether to notify or pause its proposed Land and Water Regional Plan, following the announcement of Government’s pending legislative change 22 October.
You can read the complete proposed Draft Otago Land and Water Regional Plan online. This e-plan is the official version of the plan. Printed copies are available, but please note, printed copies do not include maps as there are simply too many. If you are unable to access the online maps a staff member will be able to help you.
2024
PDF | 4 MB
The LWRP forms part of a suite of planning instruments that are used to manage Otago’s natural and physical resources.
2024
PDF | 4 MB
2024
PDF | 215 KB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan.
2024
PDF | 4 MB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan.
2024
PDF | 368 KB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan.
2024
PDF | 645 KB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan.
2024
PDF | 1 MB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan.
2024
PDF | 1018 KB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan.
2024
PDF | 913 KB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan
2024
PDF | 1 MB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan
2024
PDF | 1 MB
October 2024
PDF | 413 KB
2024
PDF | 816 KB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan
2024
PDF | 561 KB
2024
PDF | 2 MB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan
2024
PDF | 2 MB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan
2024
PDF | 340 KB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan
17 October 2024
PDF | 664 KB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan
2024
PDF | 421 KB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan
2024
PDF | 387 KB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan
2024
PDF | 611 KB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan
2024
PDF | 433 KB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan
2024
PDF | 901 KB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan
2024
PDF | 481 KB
2024
PDF | 149 KB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan
2024
PDF | 321 KB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan
2024
PDF | 528 KB
This Section 32 Evaluation Report should be read together with the Proposed Otago Land and Water Regional Plan
The Otago Regional Council is developing a Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP) to protect Otago’s precious waterways for future generations.
The proposed new rules and regulations will give comprehensive direction for managing land and water resources in the region. Some rules and regulations will be region-wide, while others will apply to specific parts of Otago.
A big thank you to everyone who took the time to give feedback on the proposed new rules in our draft land and water plan. We received over 550 responses from members of the community wanting to have their voice heard on the draft plan.
So far, the main areas of feedback have been around:
Over the period January 2024 to August 2024, we will complete statutory consultation with those who could be affected by the plan. This will include Iwi authorities as well as stakeholders such as city and district councils, central government, industry groups, and environmental groups.
After finishing the statutory consultation ORC will get the plan ready for public notification. One notified, everyone will be able to read the proposed plan, and make formal submissions on it should they choose to. More details on how to make a formal submission will be available before notifying the plan.
Originally scheduled to be notified by end of June, on 27 March this year Council requested that staff delay the planned notification until 31 October 2024. The final draft plan will come to a council meeting on 23 October, when Council will be asked to formally notify the Plan. This stage is a milestone 4 years in the making; a collaborative effort between Councillors, mana whenua, Council staff, and a lot of input from our community and stakeholders including 3 public consultation stages between Nov 2021 and Nov 2023 resulting in more than a thousand individual pieces of feedback - showing it really does take a community to make a plan for the future.
1. | Feedback on environmental actions (last year) | |
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2. |
Feedback on draft plan (we are here!)
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3. | Plan notified/legal effect for some parts | |
4. | Submissions invited | |
5. | Public hearings | |
6. | Hearings panel report | |
7. | ORC decisions made | |
8. | Appeals period | |
9. | Plan replaces the old Water Plan for Otago |
There is a programme of work to complete before the draft plan is presented to Council for a decision on notification before the end of October, which includes:
Talking to representatives from primary production. The forestry sector consultation started a little later than that with others, so we’re making time to hear from them. We’re also taking the time to hear from some of the other organisations who took part in the last round of consultation to clarify a few things.
Seeking a legal review of the plan.
Completing the supporting Section 32 Evaluation Report, which considers the positive and negative impacts of the Plan on the community, economy and environment. This report will allow Council to weigh the pros and cons before making its decision to notify the Plan.
Presenting a copy of the draft plan to our iwi partners for consultation.
In early October, staff will brief the Council on the whole plan.
On 23 October, Council will be asked to formally notify the Plan.
If approved by Council, this version of the Plan will be notified on 31 October and become the proposed Land and Water Regional Plan. As the rules in the LWRP relate to the management of water or soil (for soil conservation) some parts will have legal effect upon notification of the Plan.
Once the plan is notified, everyone can make formal submissions on the proposed plan. We’ll have more detail about how and when to make a submission closer to this time.
What will the Plan mean for you?
We have some FAQs up on our website which might answer your questions, otherwise, you can email policy@orc.govt.nz
Aligned with national and regional policies, this plan affects resource consents, permitted activities, and new projects. Got questions? We're here to help!
From Agrichemical to Weir, we've created an explanation of some of the terms from the Land and Water Regional Plan
Proposed new rules in the Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP) for Otago will give new, comprehensive direction for managing land and water resources in the region. The plan is required in New Zealand law, replacing an outdated Otago Regional Council planning framework that is no longer fit for purpose.
Our Otago draft plan is one of the first in the country heading towards public notification and a subsequent submission and hearings process. Parts of the plan will have legal effect following notification of the plan.
We began this journey in 2019 when the Minister for the Environment asked the Otago Regional Council to prepare a new Regional Policy Statement and Land and Water Plan. Previous planning rules and regulations were no longer deemed fit to provide protection for Otago’s waterways and surrounding environment.
Between 2020 and 2022 we engaged with our community around the visions and values people wanted for our waterways and the land affecting them in this new, more in-depth Plan. We also spoke with communities about actions that would help us reach positive environmental outcomes – these were that Otago's freshwater and land activities need to be:
A freshwater management unit (FMU) is a water body or multiple water bodies believed to be the appropriate scale for managing water.
Get a better understanding of why the Land and Water Regional Plan was proposed, as well as what the plan will address, and what communities have said.
Our partnership with Kāi Tahu aims to build a strong and lasting relationships which allow mana whenua to contribute to decision-making and capacity development. It's a legal requirement but also part of our commitment to meaningful engagement, respecting the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
On this page you will find information about the changed rules and regulations relating to the Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP).