Mediation on river use continuing

The Lindis River. Photo / ODT files.

Mediation is continuing between a group of Tarras farmers and the Otago Regional Council over the use of the Lindis River.

Last year the Lindis Catchment Group appealed the regional council's decision to set a minimum flow rate for the Lindis River catchment at 900 litres per second from October 1 to May 31 every year.

Many of the farmers who use the Lindis River for irrigation have said their livelihoods would be threatened if the flow limits remained at 900 litres per second during the dry summer months.

Lindis Catchment Group committee member and local farmer Bruce Jolly said he was restricted in what he could say because of the confidentiality conditions of mediation, but the farmers were hoping the dispute would be resolved during this round of mediation.

"It's still unclear whether it will be resolved this time around or more mediation will be needed - let's put it that way - but you could say we were certainly hoping something could be resolved.''

Regional council director of policy planning and resource management Fraser McRae said mediation was continuing and the council was due to report back to the Environment Court by the end of the month.

If an agreement is not reached during the mediation process the appeal will be decided in an Environment Court hearing.

The Lindis catchment decision is part of the regional council's water plan to promote the sustainable management of region's water resources.

The Manuherikia catchment area is now going through a plan change process which will seek to set minium flow limits on the Manuherikia River, one of the driest areas in New Zealand.