ORC consulting communities on minimum flows for the Pomahaka and Waiwera Rivers

The Otago Regional Council (ORC) is holding workshops in Tapanui and Clinton next week as part of the process to establish minimum river flow levels on two South Otago rivers.

ORC director policy and resource planning Fraser McRae said the minimum flow workshops for the Pomahaka and Waiwera Rivers will be of primary interest to those who enjoy the local wildlife including fish, flora and birds and those who use the water for irrigation and stock water.

The Pomahaka catchment is located in southwest Otago and is one of the larger tributaries of the Clutha River/Mata-Au. The river flows from its headwaters in the Umbrella Range, through productive farmland around Tapanui and Heriot, to join the Clutha River/Mata-Au upstream of Clydevale. The river extends for around 98km and has a catchment area of approximately 2,060km2. In the Pomahaka catchment there are currently 20 permits for surface water able to take a maximum of 0.471m3/s.

The Waiwera catchment is a sub catchment of the Clutha River/Mata-Au with a catchment area of 209km2. The headwaters are located in the Wisp Range from which it flows north to meet the Clutha River/Mata-Au downstream from Clydevale.

In the Waiwera catchment there are currently two surface water permits able to take 0.082m3/s. Currently this accounts for 53% of the primary catchment allocation. There is currently primary allocation available in the catchment.

The meeting for the Pomahaka River is being held at the Tapanui Community Centre on Tuesday 20 April from 1pm to 3pm.

A second meeting for both the Pomahaka and Waiwera Rivers is being held on the same day from 7pm to 9pm at the Clinton Community Centre.

"The meetings are free and open to all and we encourage those interested to come along and participate in the process of establishing minimum flows for the Pomahaka and Waiwera Rivers," Mr McRae said.

Following these meetings further consultation will take place during the year and notification of minimum flows for the Pomahaka and Waiwera Rivers will occur next year.