March 4, 2008

MEDIA STATEMENT

Call for feedback on draft Orari River Catchment Management Strategy

People with an interest in South Canterbury’s Orari River are invited to a public meeting this month to provide feedback on the new draft management strategy for the river and its catchment.

The strategy is the result of three years of meetings with interested parties, facilitated by Environment Canterbury, and the final stages have been put together by an elected steering committee.

Environment Canterbury resource care co-ordinator Julia Laming expects there will be no surprises in the strategy, as interested people have been very involved and had plenty of input.

“Once we get the strategy approved, we have to look at how to implement it,” she says. Major issues include gravel management and the flood-carrying capacity of the river.

At the moment the Orari River is didymo-free, and the strategy aims to keep it that way. Education about the river and its environment is also included.

Ms Laming says it is likely various sub-committees may be formed to work their way through the actions documented in the river catchment management strategy.

The meeting is being held on Monday, March 10, 7.30pm at the Geraldine Domain Pavilion.

ENDS

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