LTCCP amendment supported by submitters
Posted on Thursday, 10 November 2011 12:04 p.m.
Environment Southland received broad support from submitters to an amendment to its Long Term Council Community Plan in response to the Waituna Lagoon today.
The Council considered five submissions to the amendment that sought approval for additional $1,995,000 in spending outside the expenditure set in the 2009-2019 plan to be used to prevent the lagoon from “flipping”.
Three submitters spoke to their submissions including Federated Farmers, Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society and the Southland Conservation Board.
Conservation Board Chairman Robin McNeil spoke in full support of Council’s plans to halt the deterioration of the lagoon into turbid water dominated by algal slime, a state that could be irreversible. He said for a solution to be found it would require “quite a lot of pain” but it was worth enduring the save the lagoon.
“The Southland Conservation Board is happy to support you (Environment Southland) in whatever way we can.”
Federated Farmers representatives David Cooper and David Rose spoke to their organisation’s submission and also offered their support for efforts to save the lagoon.
Mr Rose applauded the Council for setting up Waituna Drainage Liaison Committee that could engage with, and draw on knowledge from, farmers familiar with the area.
Forest and Bird Otago-Southland Field Officer Sue Maturin also supported the amendment to the plan but proposed some changes including that her organisation be allowed a position in the Waituna Catchment Group.
James Ryan, of DairyNZ, chose not to be present to speak to his organisation’s submission because he had engaged in sufficient dialogue with Council on the matter. However its submission strongly supported the Council’s objective to protect the lagoon and encouraged a collaborative approach.
Council Chairman Ali Timms thanked all of the submitters for their contribution to the consultation process and councillors sanctioned minor amendments as outlined in the staff report as well as the request that a Forest and Bird representative be included on the Waituna Catchment Group.
The total cost of the efforts to prevent Waituna Lagoon from flipping is estimated at $2,681,636 in the 2011/12 financial year. The work was unforeseen when the Long-term Plan was originally set, but $686,636 is to come from existing programmes through redirection.
Environment Southland has applied to the Government’s Fresh Start for Fresh Water Clean-up Fund for a financial contribution and is also seeking industry assistance for the Council’s projects which are expected to cost $6.5million.
The Council today also endorsed the application made to the Clean-up fund and Environmental Management Director Warren Tuckey said a decision on its success or otherwise was expected before Christmas.
Environment Southland is the brand name of Southland Regional Council.