ORC seeking community involvement in groundwater decisions

The Otago Regional Council (ORC) is hosting a groundwater management workshop in Ranfurly next week and is keen for locals to get involved.

The Maniototo Basin groundwater management community workshop is on next Monday (21 July) from 2pm to 3.30pm at the Maniototo Rugby Club rooms.

ORC policy manager Dale Meredith said the workshop aims to get local input into the review process from the outset.

“ORC groundwater scientists will be studying the aquifer over the coming year, so we are keen to hear how people use the groundwater in the area, what it enables them to do and what they know about the resource,” Ms Meredith said.

Locals can get involved in the study by enabling access to their groundwater bores.

“Discussing existing groundwater bore data with locals will help us get a better picture of historic groundwater patterns in the area, which can guide us as we develop management policies for the resource,” she said.

“We are keen to get an idea of how demand for groundwater is likely to change and what the local aspirations are. Changes affecting groundwater could include new irrigation systems, changes in farming, and to the population in the area.”

ORC will also explain its current water management policy as part of community consultations about setting limits on how much water can be taken from the resource.

Future groundwater workshops are planned in Roxburgh, Hawea, and the Pisa Terraces later this year.

Information from the previous workshops is available on the ORC website www.orc.govt.nz

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