'Upper Taieri Water Resource Management; effective community water resource management.'
This Sustainable Farming Fund project tackles very significant water management issues within a large and diverse catchment/community. The project aims to produce a model for community self-management of water resources in a high demand area. Over 150 water users are involved, many of whom face the expiry of their current water access permits (deemed permits/mining rights) in 2021. The group’s Chair, Geoff Crutchley, has extensive experience in community water management (having chaired the Maniototo Irrigation Company for many years) and the group has a multistakeholder (community) approach to water resource management. Other members include farming representatives from throughout the catchment, Department of Conservation, Fish & Game Otago, Otago Regional Council and Central Otago District Council representatives. The project hopes to attract Iwi and other stakeholder representation as the project progresses.
