Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Public feedback sought on Lake Tarawera

Public feedback sought on plan to restore and protect Lake Tarawera

6th May 2015


A plan to restore water quality in Lake Tarawera has just been released for public input.

The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme has released the draft Tarawera Lakes Restoration Plan and is seeking input from the community.

The Plan outlines the key challenges and proposes actions to be taken to achieve long-term sustainable water quality for the lake. Bay of Plenty Regional Council General Manager Environmental Delivery Warwick Murray encouraged people to have their say on the Plan.

“Lake Tarawera is one of our most pristine lakes, enjoyed by the Tarawera residents, local iwi, tourists and wider community, but water quality is declining,” he said.

Water quality is measured using the Trophic Level Index (TLI), a number used to indicate the health of lakes in New Zealand calculated using total nitrogen, total phosphorous, water clarity and chlorophyll-a. For 2013/2014, Lake Tarawera had a TLI of 3.0, 0.4 units above its community-agreed water quality target of 2.6.

The main cause of declining water quality is an increase in nitrogen and phosphorous flowing into the lake from the catchment. The restoration plan identifies what actions are needed to reduce the amount of nutrients, including sewage reticulation, managing land use in the Tarawera and neighbouring lake catchments and controlling nitrogen-fixing plants such as silver wattle.

“Restoring Lake Tarawera is a unique and complex task, as it relies on the health of seven neighbouring lakes - Ōkāreka, Ōkataina, Rotokakahi, Rotomahana, Tikitapu, Rerewhakaaitu and Ōkaro - which drain into Lake Tarawera. It is important that the affected communities for these lakes, as well as people living in Rotorua, get involved in to how we go about remedying the situation,” Murray said.

Feedback on the draft Plan is open until 20 June. Copies of the draft Tarawera Lakes Restoration Plan and a submission form are available online at www.rotorualakes.co.nz, from Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Rotorua Lakes Council and Te Arawa Lakes Trust offices, or by calling 0800 884 880.

ends

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.