The impact on small communities by the Otago Regional Council's proposed water plan changes could be substantial, Cr Gerry Eckhoff says.
Two water plan changes - one relating to minimum flows, change 1B, and the other to water allocation and use, change 1C - were considered at the recent policy and resource planning committee meeting.
Change 1B related to setting minimum flow regimes and primary allocation limits for the Waianakarua River and Trotters and Luggate creeks which best maintained aquatic ecosystems and natural character under low-flow conditions.
Change 1C was intended to improve the overall effectiveness of means to control water use under limited conditions.
Cr Eckhoff said he was not convinced people understood the economic effects of minimum flows.
Cr Bryan Scott said the public consultation process was the ideal time for people to bring those concerns to the council.
Chairman Stephen Cairns said the hearings for the plan changes had the potential to be bigger than the air plan change which attracted more than 800 submissions.
The council had already held a series of pre-consultation meetings and water forums and had incorporated those views into the proposals.
The committee agreed to a time-line for the public notification of both plan changes, beginning on December 20.
Public meetings would be held in February, with people having until March 9 to file their submissions.
Hearings were likely to be held in the middle of next year.
Change 1B would be heard by councillors Louise Croot, Michael Deaker and Duncan Butcher.
Change 1C would be heard by Stephen Cairns, David Shepherd and Cr Butcher.
