PHOTO: ODT FILESThe Otago Regional Council will seek approval from the Environment Minister to delay its regional policy statement. It follows the release of the new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020, which will take effect next week, and change requirements of the council’s work. The regional policy statement sets the direction for future management of Otago’s natural and physical resources. The new standards require all regional policy statements to address some aspects of freshwater management at a regional level and then require further detail to be inserted into regional and district plans. They agreed council would still complete a draft of the regional policy statement this year and would report progress to Mr Parker in October.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 28, 2020 16:30 UTC