Manuherikia River technical advisory group chairwoman Gwyneth Elsum said establishing criteria to judge the ecological health of the river was now expected to be completed at the next group meeting, later this month.
The work was originally expected to be complete last month.
At present it was ‘‘very nearly finished’’, Ms Elsum, who is also ORC strategy, policy and science general manager, said.
There were a few technical details that members wanted to research before finalising the criteria, she said.
‘‘This shift is not expected to affect the overarching timeframe for [the technical advisory group] to complete its programme of work by March next year.’’
Some minor rejigging of the work programme had also been necessary, Ms Elsum said.
At this stage there was no impact from the Manuherikia River work on the council’s ongoing land and water plan work in other parts of the region.
The council was beginning consultation elsewhere in the region, with the Upper Lakes and Catlins communities, over the coming weeks, she said.
The Manuherikia River is a priority river for the council in developing its land and water plan, and it has proven controversial.
In August, councillors put off noting council staff-recommended minimum flow levels and instead asked the technical advisory group to complete work on habitat modelling and for a scientific peer review of hydrology work for the river.
After that decision, the council’s former chairwoman Marian Hobbs signed a petition calling on Environment Minister David Parker to disband the councillors and appoint commissioners to govern the council, due to the perceived lack of action on environmental protection for the river.
Last week, Ms Hobbs resigned after Mr Parker did not dismiss her and her colleagues.
Meanwhile, Cr Michael Laws remains under scrutiny at the council after it was revealed last month a code of conduct complaint against him had been lodged by council chief executive Sarah Gardner on August 16.
Mrs Gardner’s complaint was in part due to Cr Laws’ reaction in the media to a report on public, at times anonymous, submissions on flow scenarios for the river.
Cr Laws questioned the validity of the report which appeared to show the public wanted more water left in the river than the other management scenarios presented.
He described the report findings as ‘‘bogus’’ and called the report ‘‘crap’’.
A minimum flow is a mandatory cut-off point when water can no longer be taken under low-flow conditions.
When a river drops below its minimum flow, anyone with a consent to take water, other than a deemed permit, must stop.
The ORC’s decision on minimum flows for the Manuherikia River will be made when it notifies the regional land and water plan, due at the end of 2023.
At that point the public will have their say through a submissions and hearings process.
