Towards a new plan – water and land

Environment Southland has released an engagement document today that outlines the Council’s thinking and highlights some approaches that could help to improve water quality. This is an important stage in our Water and Land 2020 & Beyond project.

Environment Southland chairman Ali Timms said the suggested proposals are based on the best science available, and now we need to know whether these approaches are workable on the ground.

“Council is keen to know if we are on the right track; if you think our ideas are practical and will work on the ground; or whether you have some different solutions for improving water quality,” Ali said.

Maintaining water quality is key to protecting our way of life in Southland. To do that we need to look at where improvements can be made to the way we do things – on the land and with the water.

We will be seeking your views on the engagement document ‘Towards a new plan - Water and Land’ until mid-October. Following this, all feedback will be collated and a proposed Water and Land Plan will be considered by council in December.

A number of drop-in sessions will be held across the region from now until October, to gather feedback. “People can come along and talk to staff and councillors, ask questions about the proposals and discuss their views on them.”

The suggested changes are aimed at putting in place measures that will halt any further decline in Southland’s water quality while work continues on the research for the next phase of the project, which will focus on the setting of catchment limits (for water quality – discharges into water bodies; and water quantity – extractions from water bodies).

The engagement document, a full copy of the working draft for water and land and a range of supporting information is available on the Environment Southland website, www.es.govt.nz/waterandland/.

There is a form in the back of the engagement document or feedback can be submitted online.

ENDS

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