The Intensive Winter Grazing season is now underway and Otago Regional Council’s annual winter flyovers are set to begin within the next 6 weeks - focusing on identifying activities which could contribute to poor water quality across Otago.

Portfolio co-lead Councillor Robbie Byars says the annual flyovers look at a range of activities including intensive winter grazing, large land disturbances around forestry and earthworks, and any machinery working in or around waterways.

“After each flyover, staff assess the information available and undertake site visits to ground truth and check compliance on any potential high-risk sites,” he says.

“The ORC undertakes compliance flights every year to gain a bird’s eye view on land use in districts around the region to identify any potential risks to water quality”, Cr Byars says.

ORC Compliance Manager Simon Wilson says while the regulations have changed over the years, good practice still means good environmental outcomes.

“Whether a consent is in place or not, farmers are encouraged to continue to have a grazing management plan in place to support good on-farm decisions around grazing and mitigation measures,” Mr Wilson says.

ORC’s compliance programme will continue for this winter period, with an education first approach and assessment of any on-site risks to the environment.

We expect all farmers, forestry contractors, earth-moving contractors to have a plan in place for managing sediment which could be mobilised, and have controls in place to keep that sediment from getting into Otago waterways, he says.

Anyone who sees pollution to a waterway is encouraged to contact ORC’s 24/7 Pollution Hotline on 0800 800 033, or email pollution@orc.govt.nz”

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