MEDIA RELEASE

What’s the true state of the Bay of Plenty environment?

For immediate release: Thursday 30 September 2004 Do we live in a clean, green Bay of Plenty?

A major report by Environment Bay of Plenty tells the true story of the state of the region’s environment. Bay Trends 2004 reviews 12 key environmental resources, such as soils, lakes and air, and publishes its findings in an attractive book that’s free to anyone who wants it.

“It’s very comprehensive and it tells it like it is”, says the regional council’s group manager community relations Bruce Fraser.

Three years ago, at the last review, the publication won an award from the Ministry for the Environment. Mr Fraser says he has tried to make this year’s report even better. And that means using lots of good photographs, cutting out technical language, and including stories about real people living in our community. “It’s got to be interesting,” he says. “It’s no use doing all that work if no one’s going to read it.” Bay Trends 2004 lists the current state of each resource, whether its improving or in decline, the pressures on it, and Environment Bay of Plenty’s response. The report demonstrates: Improvements in soils, land cover, contaminated sites, riverbeds, beaches and dunelands, coastal waters, geothermal resources Worsening groundwater, lakes and air No change in wetlands, rivers and streams

For the first time, it also shows people what they can do to help.

The report also includes information from last year’s attitudes and perceptions survey. “We wanted to see if people’s perceptions of the environment matched the reality,” Mr Fraser says. “Actually, it seems local residents do have a pretty good handle on things.”

Mr Fraser says many people choose to live in the Bay of Plenty because of its environment. “They value it and they tell us they expect to be kept informed about it – which is why we have prepared this report.”

For a free copy, call Environment Bay of Plenty on 0800 ENV BOP (368 267) or view it on www.envbop.govt.nz.

ENDS
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