20 November 2016

Southern Lakes Taskforce – an ORC initiative

Our southern lakes are in danger.

For over two decade now, water quality in the southern lakes and associated waterways has been deteriorating. The lakes and waterways within the Otago regional catchments have been beset by a variety of bacterial and weed infestations - from ‘duck itch’ to didymo, from lagorosiphon to ‘lake snow’, from algal blooms to nutrient over-supply.

These threats are now causing aesthetic and recreational concerns, clogging domestic water intakes and possess the potential to damage the tourism experience and ongoing economic development in the region.

The pristine nature of Otago’s environment is one of our primary drawcards for national and international tourists, as well as new migrants (internal and external) and new businesses. Any danger or damage to that environment has the potential for significant consequences – social, cultural and economic.

Principles of local government

The Local Government Act 2002 was amended to exclude the “four well-beings” in 2012 but it did restate the role of local authorities, and section 14 outlined the principles by which local authorities must govern.

This includes a principle of “sustainable development” in s14 (h), which is defined as -

(h) in taking a sustainable development approach, a local authority should take into account—
(i)the social, economic, and cultural interests of people and communities;
(ii)the need to maintain and enhance the quality of the environment; and
(iii)the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations.

The key part of the act, relating to sustainability, is not simply to maintain the environment as it is, but to improve it. And to ensure that such improvements are translated to future generations.

Is the Otago Regional Council meeting the lakes’ needs?

The prime responsibility for the health and water quality of Otago’s lakes and waterways rests, statutorily, with the Otago Regional Council. Although other players have contributory roles – LINZ, territorial authorities and the like – preserving and restoring water quality is our job.

That so many algae and weed infestations have recently affected Otago lakes is a matter of public record. In turn, the public are properly demanding that those authorities responsible should take active and immediate action.

Although ORC have undertaken some work with regards the region’s lakes and waterways – from scientific monitoring to the annual spraying of poison – the work is not co-ordinated as a policy whole nor is it effective.

A multi-disciplinary, multi-agency Southern Lakes Taskforce

Despite the media coverage, the three lakes in the worst environmental shape within the Otago region are probably Lakes Johnson, Hayes and Waihola. All are relatively small lakes, and the surrounding land use is likely to have had the greatest environmental impact.

But we do know that the other larger southern lakes are all beset with their own environmental challenges. Lakes Wanaka, Hawea, Dunstan and Wakatipu may be tourism highlights but each is under significant threat from invasive organisms.

One of the frustrations in responding to these threats is the inadequacy of the science. And the science is inadequate because of a general lack of qualitative data and research.

This paper suggests the formation of a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency Southern Lakes Taskforce that is led and primarily funded by the Otago Regional Council.

The Taskforce would comprise representatives from central and local government, the University of Otago and similar research/academic bodies, and local communities (eg the lakes’ guardian organisations).

The aim of the Taskforce would be to policy lead the scientific research of all lake threats within the region, and construct policy solutions for consideration by the appropriate authorities. It would also co-ordinate applications for additional funding and act as an organisational base for the Taskforce.
Recommendations

1. That the Otago Regional Council accept, in principle, the concept of a Southern Lakes Taskforce, for the purpose of researching environmental threats to lakes in the region, especially the current infestations;

2. That the council invite other parties, with interests in the southern lakes, to create the Southern Lakes Taskforce, and accept organisational responsibility for such;

3. That the invited parties include the relevant government agencies, territorial authorities, academic bodies and community groups;

4. That the council appoint two or three of its governance team to take responsibility for assembling the Taskforce details and report progress to the next scheduled meeting of the Otago Regional Council.

Cr Michael Laws
Dunstan Ward
Otago Regional Council

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