13 Sep 2011

Otago Regional Council rolls out new water quality policies

9:39 am on 13 September 2011

Otago Regional council is holding a series of forums to ensure farmers are aware of the changes it is proposing to its water plan for the region.

The council's associate director of communications, Peter Taylor, says the new rural water quality policies are in draft stage and include water discharge standards.

He says it's important that farmers attend to see how they may be affected by the changes and how they might have to change their irrigation practices to conform with the policies when they are implemented.

Mr Taylor says the series of forums will be followed by catchment meetings, before formal consultation and notification of the policies.

The first forum is being held in Cromwell on Tuesday 13 September, with others scheduled in Oamaru and Balclutha.