Lindis River minimum flow process to be advanced

Two possible minimum flow options for the Lindis River and its surrounding groundwater will be presented at a meeting at Tarras on Wednesday November 30.

The meeting is the fourth in a series organised by the Otago Regional Council (ORC). It will start at 7pm in the Tarras Community Hall.

ORC director of policy and resource planning Fraser McRae said two minimum flow options for the river would be presented for discussion.

The first sought to allow irrigation and provide a continuous flow at the Lindis Crossing bridge, while the second would factor Tarras Water Ltd’s proposed new irrigation scheme into the proposed minimum flow.

Mr McRae said pressure for water taking from the Lindis River would reduce if the TWL scheme went ahead. A higher minimum flow was possible to ensure continuous flow to the Clutha River Mata-Au.

Any decision by shareholders to proceed with the TWL scheme was distinct from the process ORC is leading to establish a minimum flow for the Lindis, Mr McRae said.

However, any decision on the proposed scheme would be taken into account when setting a minimum flow, he said.

No decision on a minimum flow would be made before TWL decided whether or not to proceed with its proposed scheme.

ORC would carefully consider the practicalities for farmers of when and how the minimum flow became operational once it was set, Mr McRae said.

Information from the previous meetings is available on the ORC website www.orc.govt.nz.