MEDIA RELEASE

November 21, 2013

Environment Canterbury welcomes PCE report on freshwater

Environment Canterbury has welcomed the release of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s report – Water quality in New Zealand: understanding the science (November 21, 2013).

“The report provides information and perspective on water quality issues at the national and regional level,” said David Caygill, the Environment Canterbury Commissioner with responsibility for water.

“It confirms that the level of nitrates have risen significantly in the past decade, at least in part because of dairying and other intensive farming activities.

“In Canterbury we are well aware declining water quality is an issue. The Canterbury Water Management Strategy is using a community led, collaborative approach to improve water outcomes, backed up by regulation.

“Our broad approach to water management has been to start with outcomes: what do we want our lakes and rivers to be like?  This approach is fundamental to the Canterbury Water Management Strategy, which has a range of targets it seeks to achieve over a range of environmental, cultural, economic and social dimensions.

“Through the Land and Water Regional Plan we are putting in place the policies and rules to ensure we achieve those targets, which include long-term improvements in both freshwater quality and quantity.

“Protecting and enhancing our waterways through fencing and planting is an important part of what’s already taking place.  For example since 2010 we have invested, in partnership with rural land owners, more than $4 million in 195 km of protective fencing, committed to plant over a quarter of a million plants and protected 1800 ha of land.

“At our 5 December council meeting we will decide on the recommendations on the proposed Canterbury Land & Water Regional Plan.  When the rules come into full effect next year they will, for the first time, place controls on the use of nitrate – and other nutrients – in Canterbury.”

The Land & Water Regional Plan sets standards across the region.  At the more local level, local people are involved in developing more detailed (sub-regional) plans and rules which will put in place local solutions for local problems.

“We are then asking farmers and land-users to manage their operations and improve their environmental performance so we can start to reverse the decline in water quality.
He said farmers realise that their industry needs to improve its environmental performance, and farm to the nutrient limits being set.  “We are also working with farmers to do even more than the rules dictate.

“We will be sending copies of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s report to members of the committees set up as part of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.  It provides really good information to inform our work on water management.”

ENDS

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