Future development in the Mackenzie Basin and its environs, including Omarama and Ohau areas, is to be the focus of a symposium at Twizel in November being planned by four environmental groups.
The aim of the symposium, on November 26 and 27, is to bring together key stakeholders and the local community to take a strategic look at management issues and to identify options for the Mackenzie Basin.
Environmental Defence Society (EDS) executive director Gary Taylor announced the symposium, which is being run in conjunction with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), and the Forest and Bird Protection Society.
The EDS has taken an active role in future development in the Mackenzie, Ohau and Omarama Basins, including a successful challenge to the High Court against the Waitaki District Council issuing land-use consents and compliance certificates last year for 19 dairy farm developments in the region.
"We are concerned at some of the things that have been happening and there do seem to be some pretty significant resource conflicts there - for example between dairy intensification and landscape," he said when contacted by the Otago Daily Times.
The national Land and Water Forum exercise was completed recently, resulting in a consensus view of the way forward for freshwater management in New Zealand.
"We thought we might try to achieve a similar agreement around a process for the different interest to talk about the future of the Mackenzie Basin," Mr Taylor said.
Local input was critical for that.
He hoped some of the keynote speakers would include local tourism, farming, council and business interests.
"I would describe it as an inclusive process, not one where groups from outside are going to come down and preach," he said.
The programme will begin with a half-day tour around the Mackenzie Basin on the Friday afternoon, followed by dinner and a keynote speaker.
On Saturday, November 27, there will be a series of speakers and facilitated discussions.
Minister for the Environment Dr Nick Smith will be a keynote speaker.
The programme will include a stocktake of the values of the Mackenzie Basin, identification of present and future pressures, evaluation of the effectiveness of present management regimes including the Resource Management Act, and identification of possible ways to strengthen the framework.
There will be ample opportunities for input into the discussion, especially local views to build a consensus about the way forward.
Mr Taylor said further information on keynote speakers and how to register would be available in about a week.
The symposium will be free, but a charge will apply for the dinner.