Forums to hothouse strategic approach to water quality

Otago farmers are being urged to attend two major forums on water quality.

The Otago Regional Council (ORC) is running the forums at Balclutha's Rosebank Lodge on Monday 24 May and Tuesday 25 May, and at Cromwell's Presbyterian Hall on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 May.

Both forums have attracted leading speakers from government, farming, the meat industry, the rural servicing sector, and the scientific community. Agriculture Minister David Carter is the keynote speaker at the Cromwell forum.

The forums will operate under the theme of good water, good farming, underlying the importance of high quality water to agricultural best practice.

ORC deputy chairman Stephen Woodhead said strong farmer attendance at the forums was vital for the future strategic direction of water quality.

"These forums offer Otago farmers a chance to influence water quality policy in Otago. They may find themselves better off under the ORC approach compared to what is being discussed at the national level," Cr Woodhead said.

The ORC has sent out more than 1,000 invitations to both forums.

However Cr Woodhead said time was running out for registrations for the Balclutha forum, of which there have only been a few. Registrations have been slightly better for Cromwell where farmers have a history of co-operation with the ORC.

"The proposed changes to ORC's Water Plan are far-reaching and it is vital that farmers get involved at the start of this process," he said.

If farmers don't register for the Balclutha forum by Monday next week it will be cancelled.

Cr Woodhead said Council was keen to see that farming enterprises continue to use water to ensure their economic prosperity, whilst at the same time preserving important recreational and ecological values.

"Our rural water quality strategy, which underpins these objectives, is fundamentally about self-management, and empowering farmers. It leaves farm management squarely in their hands while giving them tools to assume responsibility for their water discharges, and the protection of the environment generally."

Cr Woodhead said this was an approach which had not been tried elsewhere and the Council was keen for farmers to get involved for this reason.

As well as featuring a lineup of leading speakers, the forums will offer opportunities for feedback and discussion on the pros and cons of the ORC proposals.

>> View Balclutha water forum programme
>> View Cromwell water forum programme
>> View the water forum advert