Water management

It is disappointing the Land and Water Forum's latest report has not added anything to the debate on the pitfalls of national "bottom lines" for the state of New Zealand's waterways, Otago Regional Council policy and resource planning director Fraser McRae says.

Charging residents on town supplies for the volume of water used rather than giving them an allocation was preferred by the Central Otago District Council yesterday and recommended to the four community boards as a model to set water rates.

The Central Otago wards of Cromwell and Vincent are in the orange zone for water restrictions, meaning residents on town water supplies need to reduce their water use.

The 144-year-old Ross Creek Reservoir is likely to be restored to full working order and its cracked earth dam fixed as part of a multimillion-dollar plan to protect Dunedin's water supply in case of natural disasters.

A draft water management plan for the lower Waitaki River and Waimate district has prompted 22 people to comment on the programme.

Fears over future powers of consumer-elected committees to manage rural water schemes in the Waitaki district prompted a challenge that changes the Waitaki District Council wanted to make were illegal.

Time is running out for people to have their say on a draft water management programme for the lower Waitaki River and the Waimate district.

Another draft water management plan is out for the lower Waitaki River - should we care? David Bruce says we should.

A water management programme for the lower Waitaki River and Waimate district is close to being made public so people can have their say before final decisions are made later this year.

Water supply is one of the coming issues of the age. The importance of securing supply in the most economic and sustainable manner cannot be underestimated.