Responses to submissions for rules to protect lake released
Responses to submissions for rules to protect lake released
Friday 20 January 2017
Public submissions received on proposed rules to manage nitrogen entering Lake Rotorua from pastoral land use have been collated and evaluated by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
Council
received 92 submissions from various individuals and groups
such as farmers, Māori land trusts and industry and an
additional 20 further submissions based on matters raised by
initial submissions
Council staff have now considered and
responded to each point raised by these submissions and are
included within the section 42A report available on the Bay
of Plenty Regional Council website, along with supporting
evidence from Council’s expert witnesses.
Regional Council’s Acting Chief Executive Fiona McTavish says the report highlights areas of Proposed Plan Change 10 where people are in agreement and what topics or components of the plan change that they do not agree on.
“The report is a requirement of the Resource Management Act 1991 which responds to each submission and includes recommended changes to the proposed rules.” Ms McTavish says.
The independent hearing panel will consider the recommendations in the report in addition to any evidence presented by submitters when making their final decision.
“The rules are just one part of the solution to ensure long term sustainability of the lake’s water quality and we will continue to work with our partners Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Rotorua Lakes Council and Ministry for the Environment to meet the community set water quality limit.
The report can be viewed at
www.boprc.govt.nz/pc10hearings. Public hearings will be held
at the Millennium Hotel in Rotorua from March 13 to April
4.
ENDS