Otago Regional Council: Submissions invited on proposed wetlands plan change

The Otago Regional Council (ORC) is inviting submissions on proposed Plan Change 2 to the Otago Water Plan, which seeks to better protect Otago’s significant wetlands.

The plan change is effective from tomorrow (Saturday July 2) and submissions close at 5pm on Friday July 29.

ORC director of policy and resource planning Fraser McRae said the proposed plan change also aims to meet the wetlands-related requirements of the recently released National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2011.

“New Zealand has lost more than 90% of its wetlands and this plan change aims to protect the best of those remaining in Otago,” Mr McRae said.

It would achieve this by making more accurate maps for regionally significant wetlands and requiring consent for activities that could damage or destroy them.

These maps were determined by an aerial and satellite survey, with many properties visited for discussions with landowners during site visits.

Mr McRae said an important element of the proposed plan change is that the rules for regionally significant wetlands apply to all of any mapped area, which means both the water and the land are covered.

The proposed plan change and submission forms are available at ORC offices in Dunedin, Alexandra, Queenstown and Balclutha, on the ORC website (www.orc.govt.nz), by phoning 0800 474 082, or by emailing policy@orc.govt.nz