Fish and Game Otago, however, says the conversions could affect water quality in the Manuherekia River.
The farms, which cover a total 265ha on both sides of the river, are less than 500m upstream from Omakau's water intake, which is about 1m below the bed of the river. The water is treated before being piped to about 400 homes.
Omakau Ratepayers and Citizens Association chairman Norman Eade yesterday confirmed representatives of owners Larkhall Ltd met about 20 members on Wednesday night to outline their plans for the dairy farms after some residents raised concerns about water quality. Members seemed quite happy with the outcome of the meeting.
"They [the company] didn't shy away from any questions. They just want to live there, produce [milk] and look after the environment."
Larkhall director and spokesman Neil Hamilton yesterday told the Otago Daily Times the meeting "went well".
"The communication between us and the people of Omakau is very good, and we want that to continue. We are working closely with the Otago Regional Council as we want the best outcome for everybody."
Mr Hamilton said the 160ha farm on the Omakau side of the river would milk about 500 cows when it began production next year. The farm on the Ophir side (about 105ha) was having preliminary work done on it at this stage.
The other directors of Larkhall are his brothers Blair and William Hamilton (both of Oamaru) and his cousin Kelvin Weir (Duntroon).
However, Fish and Game Otago chief executive Niall Watson said dairying could result in increased irrigation returns to the Manuherekia River with increased nutrient loadings and faecal coliform in runoff, particularly from dairy waste deposited directly on to the paddock by cows and/or from effluent spray.
Groundwater returns to the river were also a concern as they too could be expected to have increased nutrient loadings.
"The Manuherikia is a small river with very low flows at dry times of the year and its capacity to absorb non-point pollution [pollution coming from stock effluent and fertilisers] is limited, especially in summer when the river is a focus for contact recreation, including fishing and swimming."
The Otago Regional Council's land resource manager, Susie McKeague, said the ORC had been working with the company to ensure everything was being done to make the farms safe and environmentally-friendly operations. She said the farm plan showed both sides of the river would be completely fenced with a good buffer zone, and she had twice inspected the properties.
Fish and Game had further concerns about landscape grooming of the property, and in particular the modification of drain lines and water courses, Mr Watson said.
"In other areas of Otago, there is a disturbing trend with dairy farmers pressing ahead with wetland drainage, waterway modification and other landscape grooming as if they were permitted activities when they are not."
