ORC

The Otago Regional Council has approved the development of a "multiparty strategy" to tackle a growing hazard caused by stock effluent on Otago's roads, but some councillors are calling for a tougher enforcement approach.

The Otago Regional Council's latest winter air quality report card shows there has been some improvement in pollution levels, but there is concern most of the region's towns will not meet national standards by next year as planned.

A new "multiparty strategy" to reduce the hazard caused on roads by stock truck effluent spills has been suggested by the Otago Regional Council.

A detention pond in the archery field of Chingford Park in Northeast Valley, Dunedin, may be created to contain flood waters from Lindsay Creek to ease the risk for homes, schools and businesses in the area.

If some of the proposed water-quality nutrient standards are applied literally, he doubts any drain discharge from an Otago farm will comply, Dairy NZ consultant Dr Michael Freeman says.

Otago's four runanga (Kai Tahu ki Otago) want assurances from the Otago Regional Council that its proposed water quality regulation changes will safeguard their ability to gather food (mahika kai) safely and use the region's waterways.

A bus operator has slammed an Otago Regional Council transport plan, saying it would put his company out of business and result in drastic fare increases.

The North Otago public hearings on proposed changes to water quality rules in Otago ended yesterday with a call for best management practices to be given more weight.

North Otago irrigation companies are questioning the legitimacy of proposed changes to Otago regional water policy.

North Otago farmers trying to get to grips with the complexities surrounding a proposed regional council water plan change yesterday said they had been fed false information in the build-up to the hearings.