Clued Up Kids 2021
The annual Safer Waitaki Clued Up Kids event was held over two days during August 2021. The event sees various community groups coming together to undertake interactive presentations to 10 and 11 year olds from various schools in the Waitaki District. The aim is to provide education about emergencies, safety, hazards, and good citizenship. WIC’s […]
Project Update – Clifton Falls Walkway Community Project
With the assistance of Waitaki Irrigators Collective’s water stewardship initiative, Waitaki Water, the Clifton Falls Walkway Community Project received funding through the Otago Regional Council’s ECO Fund . Project Manager, Jane Strang, has provided us with this update; Good progress has been made on the walkway which has seen the tractor and disc running […]
Successful ECO Fund Applications – March 2020 Funding Round
On 22 April 2020, the Otago Regional Council approved recommendations by the ECO Fund Decision Panel to support 14 community-led environmental projects around the region. Chair of the panel, Cr Michael Deaker, said “We had a range of outstanding applications in this round, and I’m thrilled by the projects we’ve been able to support.” […]
Call-in of Plan Changes by Minister Parker
On Thursday 9 April 2020, the Otago Regional Council announced that Minister for the Environment, Hon David Parker, had called in both the Water Permits Plan Change (Plan Change 7) and the Water Quality Plan Changes (formerly ‘omnibus’ incorporating Plan Changes 8 and 1). What does this mean? The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) will […]
ORC’s Proposed Plan Change 6AA
WIC has submitted in favour of ORC’s proposed plan change to postpone the date at which conditions on discharge contamination and on nitrogen leaching come into force, from 1 April 2020 to 1 April 2026. Included in the WIC submission were a list of comments for consideration. The full submission can be found here […]
Action for Healthy Waterways Update
The consultation period for Ministry for the Environment’s Action for healthy waterways, officially closed on 31st October and according to MfE, around 17,500 submissions have been received. To read WIC’s submission, click on the following link WIC Submission to the Action for Healthy Waterways The next steps are as follows; MfE will […]
Dam Safety Regulations
Earlier this year, there was consultation by central government around dam safety regulations. The proposed regulations would apply to; any dam or pond that is less than 4m above ground level and holds 30,000m3 or more, or and dam or pond that is 4m above ground or more and holds 20,000m3 or more […]
ECan’s Fish Screens Update
Last week, Environment Canterbury (ECan) released their fish screen progress report. ECan have advised that part of their focus for 2019/2020 is to develop a five-year programme which will include a ‘catchment-based approach that will look at multiple fish screens on the same surface water source’. It is anticipated that this programme will address […]
ORC’s Proposed Plan Change 6AA to the Regional Plan: Water
Earlier this month the Otago Regional Council (ORC) notified a Proposed Plan Change 6AA to the Regional Plan: Water for Otago. The plan change proposes to postpone the date at which conditions on discharge contaminant concentration and on nitrogen leaching come into force, from 1 April 2020 to 1 April 2026. According to ORC, […]
Action for Healthy Waterways
On the 5th September 2019, Government released proposed new requirements around freshwater management that would; strengthen Te Mana o Te Wai as the framework for freshwater management better provide for ecosystem health (water, fish and plant life) better protect wetlands and estuaries better manage stormwater and wastewater, and protect sources of drinking water control […]