Environment Minister's Support For Waituna Project Sought
Posted on Thursday, 7 April 2011 03:06 p.m.
Environment Minister Nick Smith will be formally invited to
visit Southland for a briefing on the response to save and restore
the Waituna Lagoon.
Today Environment Southland Councillors resolved to issue the
invitation, aiming to get the Government's support and assistance
for work in the lagoon and its intensively farmed catchment, in
line with its involvement in projects to reverse declining water
quality in Lakes Taupo and Rotorua.
Deputy Chairman Nicol Horrell said that the Council had to
define what help it wanted to ask for, and to be realistic. "Money
will be tight after the earthquake," he said.
A separate invitation will also be issued to David Carter, the
Minister of Agriculture, in recognition of the impact that any land
management regime changes could have on farmers in the Waituna
catchment.
The Council also expects to meet MPs from parties outside the
Government who are taking an interest in the Waituna Lagoon,
including Green Party Co-Leader Russell Norman.
Monitoring has shown that the lagoon is under extreme stress
from declining water quality and an increase in nutrient-laden
sediments, resulting in an increase in algae which is overwhelming
the natural seagrass and threatening to "flip" the lagoon
irreversibly out of its natural state.
Environment Southland has initiated a wide-ranging project to
restore it to good health.
Environment Southland is the brand name of Southland Regional Council.