MEDIA RELEASE
 
 
We all have a role to play to keep our harbours and estuaries clean and healthy
 
For immediate release: 5 June 2009
 
Environment Bay of Plenty was part of a joint study of Tauranga Harbour and Waihi Estuary (near Little Waihi) that has confirmed that shellfish collected in these areas can be unsafe to eat.
 
The report found there were multiple sources of bacterial and viral contamination. Sewage leaks and spills, high and low intensity livestock agriculture, avian (bird) populations, on-site wastewater treatment plants, marine vessels, wastewater treatment plants and leaky sewage infrastructure all have the potential to contribute to contamination of the environment.
 
The report recommends that further study be done to determine that actual sources of pollution.
 
“We all share a responsibility to protect and care for our harbours and estuaries, and Environment Bay of Plenty is working with our communities to achieve that goal,” Environment Bay of Plenty Group Manager Water Management Eddie Grogan said.
 
“We would welcome the opportunity to undertake further joint studies to pinpoint the exact causes of the shellfish contamination and water quality degradation,” Mr Grogan said.
 
Environment Bay of Plenty has a number of regional plans and strategies it is implementing to help ensure our harbours and estuaries are suitable for shellfish gathering. These include the On-Site Effluent Treatment Plan, the Regional Water and Land Plan, the Regional Stormwater Strategy and through the consents and compliance process, on-land work and education programmes.
 
As part of Environment Bay of Plenty’s On-Site Effluent Treatment Regional Plan the Council has earmarked some communities as maintenance zones – areas where there are particular requirements for more frequent septic tank clean outs and inspection. Little Waihi, Maketu, Tanners Point, Ongare Point and Te Puna have been identified as maintenance zones.
 
“We are working with local councils to improve water quality, including a significant financial contribution to a proposed wastewater treatment scheme for Little Waihi and Maketu,” Mr Grogan said.
 
Through Environment Bay of Plenty’s Environmental Programmes, more than 90 percent of Tauranga Harbour margin and more than 70 percent of its main streams have been fenced or protected under covenant with Environment Bay of Plenty, Queen Elizabeth II Trust and/or Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
 
“We are continuing to work with landowners to protect biodiversity, soil and water values on their properties,” Mr Grogan said.
 
Protecting our harbours and estuaries and improving the water quality of our streams and lakes will be the focus of funding for this year’s Environmental Enhancement Fund (EEF) EEF is a proactive way for Environment Bay of Plenty to work with our communities for a better environment.
 
Environment Bay of Plenty has also published a booklet called Tauranga Harbour our special place – Te ora o te iwi, which looks at working together to care for Tauranga Harbour.
 
Ends.

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