Hearing on the joint Waituna Lagoon application underway tomorrow
JOINT MEDIA ADVISORY
The hearing to decide on the consent application to manage the opening of the Waituna Lagoon gets underway on Tuesday (29 July).
Environment Southland, Te Rūnanga o Awarua and the Department of Conservation are the three co-applicants for a new opening consent for Waituna Lagoon. The application attracted 51 submissions when it was publicly notified in August 2024.
Over three days, 19 submitters will speak to a panel of three independent commissioners. Planning, science and legal experts will also present to the panel.
Waituna Lagoon is part of the Awarua-Waituna wetland complex and was among the first sites in the world to be named "a wetland of international significance" under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1976.
It is home to many species of native birds, plants, fish and insects, and is a culturally important site for Ngāi Tahu. The lagoon is also a significant trout fishery and a popular recreational area.
The consent application includes a suite of proposed conditions to support the lagoon’s ecological and cultural values and ensures the community’s involvement in the on-going management of the lagoon.
The application utilises a combination of water level, biosecurity, ecological, water quality, and fish passage triggers and thresholds to enable lagoon openings.
- The hearing is open to the public (although space is limited). The hearing schedule is available here
- The hearing will also be livestreamed on Environment Southland’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/environmentsouthland
- The notified application and all associated documentation can be found on the Environment Southland website: Te Rūnanga o Awarua, Department of Conservation, Environment Southland - Environment Southland (es.govt.nz)
