Auckland water management plan welcomed

April 8, 2004

Water plan 1 of 2

North Shore city Council has endorsed a region-wide plan which provides for the efficient use and development of the Auckland region's water supply.

The plan, entitled 'From the Sky to the Sea', has been hailed by the council's works and environment committee chairperson, Joel Cayford, as demonstrating groundbreaking co-operation across the regional, bulk water and water retail sectors.

The plan discusses the issues surrounding water supply for the region, including demand that will come from growth, Auckland's per capita use of water, how to best manage the resource, and how to protect our environment.

"Demand management can only work if all the parties work together", Councillor Cayford says.

"We need to do all we can to protect the use of high quality water sources for drinking, to minimise the use of the expensive Waikato River source, and defer - hopefully forever - the need to develop any additional water sources," Councillor Cayford says.

Cllr Cayford says, "this plan is not just about the use of fresh water, it is also about how we can make better use of the plentiful rain that falls on our city. It is a good start toward ensuring that Auckland's use of water is sustainable into the future."

The committee yesterday supported the plan, and recommended that the council's water services division lead the development of a North Shore City action plan consistent with the Auckland Water Management Plan.

The Auckland plan spells out water consumption per head, comparing Aucklanders' consumption with other New Zealand and overseas cities.

It shows that Aucklanders are frugal in their water use, using less water per person compared with the country's six largest cities outside the region. However, water conservation figures prominently in the plan, which outlines the need for continuing education and water saving measures.

These could include encouraging the use of rain tanks for garden and non-drinking use, promoting water efficient appliances, and increasing the efficiency of water use generally amongst consumers, the public and industry.

The overall aim is to continue to provide the region with a water supply that is amongst the best quality for any city in the world.

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