Otago water care group wants farmers at fore

Lloyd McCall is excited to help create new farmer-led water care groups in the Clutha region. Photo: Ella Stokes

A South Otago water care group is calling for its second phase of development to be farmer-led.

The Clutha Water Quality Project was formed in 2016 to meet the Otago Regional Council's regional plan change 6A (water quality).

It prompted and provided on-farm discharge testing, created more knowledge and education around water quality and gained 160 farm members.

However, now there is a call for the project to be farmer-led and target prevention of decreased water quality.

Its facilitator, farmer and Pomahaka Water Care Group chairman Lloyd McCall, said, depending on the interest, they hoped to establish a number of groups.

He said they would all have the same overall goal of improved water quality but would be able to target specific issues in specific areas.

Mr McCall said they had secured funding from the Otago Regional Council, MPI sustainable farming fund and Shand Thomson Ltd for a two-year scoping project.

''This project will aim to establish priorities, research areas, [and] create knowledge to improve water quality.

''Farmers have to take ownership of the problem and work towards a goal.''

Mr McCall has lived in West Otago for almost 60 years and said he had seen the water quality decrease over that time.

He was extremely passionate about the topic of water quality and wanted to see not just farmers but also the community get involved with the new group.

''I want the next generation to be able to enjoy the waterways like we used to.''

A meeting will be held later this month to involve all stakeholders and gauge interest to start establishing the groups.

Southern Rural Life