Call for protection zones around vineyards
The Waitaki Winegrowers Association is calling on the Waitaki District Council to urgently establish a designated winegrowing protection zone in the proposed district plan, warning that the region's internationally recognised viticulture is at risk from incompatible land use.
In a statement released last week the association proposed the introduction of 1km protection zones around all vineyard perimeters in the Waitaki Valley.
The zones would act as buffers to protect the area's 45 hectares of grapevines from threats such as airborne pathogens, chemical spray drift, dairy effluent, and other contaminants that could irreversibly damage vine health and fruit quality.
"Millions of dollars have already been invested into vineyard development in the Waitaki Valley," Waitaki Winegrowers committee chairman and Otiake winemaker Grant Taylor said.
The Waitaki region has garnered a strong reputation for producing premium cool-climate wines, grown in limestone-rich soils at the foot of the Southern Alps.
According to the association, viticulture now plays a vital role in the region's rural economy and agricultural diversity, with both wine tourism and exports continuing to grow.
"This is a small, localised area of highly specialised land that can — and must — be protected under the district plan. It would be short-sighted not to act now."
The proposed 1km buffer zones would align Waitaki with best-practice planning standards already adopted in other leading wine regions such as Marlborough, Hastings, and Central Otago, where viticulture is recognised as a sensitive land use requiring spatial protection.
"Once damage is done, it's irreversible," Mr Taylor warned.
"Grapevines are long-term crops. They don't recover from exposure to incompatible neighbouring land use. That's why protection under the plan is so urgent and necessary."
"Wine tourism and export markets are growing, and viticulture is a critical pillar of the region's agricultural diversity and rural economy.
"Designating a winegrowing protection zone with clear 1km exclusion buffers would bring Waitaki into line with best-practice planning frameworks adopted in other New Zealand regions such as Marlborough , Hastings, and Central Otago, where viticulture is also recognised as a sensitive land use requiring buffer protection.
He said various members of the Waitaki Wine Growers have all lodged submissions on the issue.
"The association is encouraging the council to act decisively to secure the long-term future of the region's wine industry — one that brings jobs, tourism, international attention, and landscape-compatible development to the Waitaki."
An extended time frame for public submissions closed last month.
WDC heritage and planning manager David Campbell said 315 submissions had been received.
"So this process will take some time and we are considering additional resource to support this important part of the process."
"These were submitted just after the closing date due to the consultation period and cut off coinciding with our busiest and important three months of the season — grape harvest and vintage 2025 which fell over March/April/May for vineyards and winemakers in the valley.
"WDC has receipted the applications to submit and be heard and acknowledged the reason for the late submissions. We expect our members will be heard by the planning panel."
The District Plan lays out the rules for land use and development across Waitaki, and sets out what activities are permitted and what activities will need a resource consents for.
An extended time frame for public submissions closed last month.
"The submissions period has now closed, and the next stage is summarising the submissions, then advertising these for further submissions in the coming months," WDC heritage and planning manager David Campbell said.
"We received 315 submissions, so this process will take some time and we are considering additional resource to support this important part of the process."
andrew.ashton@alliedpress.co.nz
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Call for protection zones around vineyards
The Waitaki Winegrowers Association is calling on the Waitaki District Council to urgently establish a designated winegrowing protection zone in the proposed district plan, warning that the region's internationally recognised viticulture is at risk from incompatible land use. In a statement released last week the association proposed the introduction of 1km protection zones around all vineyard perimeters in the Waitaki Valley. The zones would act as buffers to protect the area's 45 hectares of grapevines from threats such as airborne pathogens, chemical spray drift, dairy effluent, and other contaminants that could irreversibly damage vine health and fruit quality. "Millions of dollars have already been invested into vineyard development in the Waitaki Valley," Waitaki Winegrowers committee chairman and Otiake winemaker Grant Taylor said. The Waitaki region has garnered a strong reputation for producing premium cool-climate wines, grown in limestone-rich soils at the foot of the Southern Alps. According to the association, viticulture now plays a vital role in the region's rural economy and agricultural diversity, with both wine tourism and exports continuing to grow. "This is a small, localised area of highly specialised land that can — and must — be protected under the district plan. It would be short-sighted not to act now." The proposed 1km buffer zones would align Waitaki with best-practice planning standards already adopted in other leading wine regions such as Marlborough, Hastings, and Central Otago, where viticulture is recognised as a sensitive land use requiring spatial protection. "Once damage is done, it's irreversible," Mr Taylor warned. "Grapevines are long-term crops. They don't recover from exposure to incompatible neighbouring land use. That's why protection under the plan is so urgent and necessary." "Wine tourism and export markets are growing, and viticulture is a critical pillar of the region's agricultural diversity and rural economy. "Designating a winegrowing protection zone with clear 1km exclusion buffers would bring Waitaki into line with best-practice planning frameworks adopted in other New Zealand regions such as Marlborough , Hastings, and Central Otago, where viticulture is also recognised as a sensitive land use requiring buffer protection. He said various members of the Waitaki Wine Growers have all lodged submissions on the issue. "The association is encouraging the council to act decisively to secure the long-term future of the region's wine industry — one that brings jobs, tourism, international attention, and landscape-compatible development to the Waitaki." An extended time frame for public submissions closed last month. WDC heritage and planning manager David Campbell said 315 submissions had been received. "So this process will take some time and we are considering additional resource to support this important part of the process." "These were submitted just after the closing date due to the consultation period and cut off coinciding with our busiest and important three months of the season — grape harvest and vintage 2025 which fell over March/April/May for vineyards and winemakers in the valley. "WDC has receipted the applications to submit and be heard and acknowledged the reason for the late submissions. We expect our members will be heard by the planning panel." The District Plan lays out the rules for land use and development across Waitaki, and sets out what activities are permitted and what activities will need a resource consents for. An extended time frame for public submissions closed last month. "The submissions period has now closed, and the next stage is summarising the submissions, then advertising these for further submissions in the coming months," WDC heritage and planning manager David Campbell said. "We received 315 submissions, so this process will take some time and we are considering additional resource to support this important part of the process."
Otago Daily Times
04-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Canterbury leaders weigh in on bypass toll
Canterbury council leaders have mixed views on the possibility of a toll on the new $1 billion Woodend Bypass in Canterbury. Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey said a toll would be imposed on the bypass, if it is recommended by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA). ''The Government has said, if NZTA recommends it, we will impose a toll,'' Mr Doocey said. ''We need to look at alternative ways of funding projects like this.'' Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon said he had reservations about a toll on the bypass, but Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said a toll made sense. "Tolls make sense in other parts of the country, but we aren't used to them down here," Mr Gordon said. Mr Gordon said he made his views known to NZTA board chairperson Simon Bridges when he visited the region earlier this year. Mr Dobbie said it paid to take a longer term view, an opinion shared by Hurunui Mayor Marie Black. "I've always thought the value of the bypass is further north," Mrs Black said. "The Christchurch Northern Corridor has made a big difference for Hurunui residents in getting into Christchurch and to the airport quicker, so I think the Hurunui people will get the benefit of the bypass." Mr Doocey and NZTA staff visited a geotech drill site next to the Cam River State Highway 1 bridge, north Kaiapoi, on Friday, May 30. The 9km stretch of road will provide an extension to the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and is expected to cost close to $1 billion, around half of Canterbury's $1.8 billion roading budget in the 2024/27 National Land Transport Programme. Mr Doocey, who has been an advocate for the project, said he is excited to see the drilling under way. "It is the next step in building the long overdue bypass.'' NZTA has contracted Tonkin & Taylor for the design and consenting preparation, while Aurecon has been sub-contracted to complete geotech drilling down to 20 metres. Mr Doocey said he was fascinated to see soil samples from different levels, which represents thousands of years of geological history. Tonkin & Taylor project director Chris Perks said the drilling is giving the engineers an understanding of what they are dealing with underground. ''We have the planning, but this allows us to know if any tweaks are required.'' The Cam River SH1 bridge will be strengthened and widened as part of the project, so staff will factor in the size and seismic engineering, Mr Perks said. NZTA regional manager system design Richard Osborne said he is pleased with the progress of the geotech work, which will be completed over the next few months. ''This is looking at how far we need to dig the piles into the ground. ''It is all on track, but you never know what is going to happen when you start digging.'' The first sod turning is expected to happen next year. Mr Osborne said the design includes two flyovers at either end of the bypass, at Pine Acres, north of Kaiapoi, and to replace the Pegasus Roundabout at Ravenswood. Automobile Association Canterbury / West Coast council member Alan Turner said he is pleased to see work progressing. ''I'm chuffed. After spending all that time researching and talking to MPs and NZTA, it was good to see just prior to the election that both main parties committed to the project. ''That was very satisfying. It will obviously be another two to three years before we really see something happening, but it is a start and that's the critical thing.'' Waimakariri Deputy Mayor Neville Atkinson said the Woodend Bypass is an important project for the Waimakariri district. ''It just shows that when we work together with central Government we can achieve things and it will provide a boost to the local economy.'' By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Otago Daily Times
04-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Fundraising to start as St John station consented
The Waitaki District Council headquarters in Oamaru's Thames St. Photo: ODT files Fundraising for Oamaru's new ambulance station starts next week. The Waitaki District Council has granted resource consent for the long-awaited project. The new Hato Hone St John station will be built on an area of land that will be subdivided off the northwest corner of 4 Weston Rd. The charitable organisation hopes that construction of the new station for Oamaru will start in the 2026 financial year. Otago Southland district operations manager David Milne said the new station would also have a public training facility. "The team is very excited about getting a new station as once it is complete, it will future-proof our operations. "Having a new station will have an incredibly positive impact on Hato Hone St John's people and services in Oamaru and will ensure the organisation can support the town and its surrounding rural district for years to come." "Once it is finished, the new station will also ensure our team can continue operating through any disruption or natural disaster. "We still need to fundraise for this project, though, so really do appreciate the continued support of the North Otago community," Mr Milne said. The Oamaru project will form part of St John's annual national fundraising campaign. This month, the organisation hopes to raise $4.5 million for the building and urgent repair and rebuild of 13 ambulance stations around New Zealand. Chief executive Peter Bradley said this year's appeal was about more than just raising money for bricks and mortar. "This is about future-proofing our stations, the home base for our emergency crews, so that no matter what tomorrow brings, our teams will always be there for communities when they need us most," Mr Bradley said. "For our ambulance officers, they [stations] are also a home away from home and a place to reset, recharge and connect with each other after attending a callout." Ambulance stations were also often a vital community hub for volunteers including those delivering first-aid training and running St John Youth programmes. Hato Hone St John staff and volunteers will be out on the streets of Oamaru with collection buckets on June 14 and June 15. Schools and businesses will be supporting them with local fundraising activities. • To donate online, visit the Light the Way Annual Appeal website at
