Thursday 12 November 2015

Signatories support Lake Trust funding announcement

The five signatories to the Lake Horowhenua are delighted with the Lake Horowhenua Trust’s successful application to Central Government’s Te Mana o Te Wai fund announced by Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox in Levin today.

Horizons Regional Council chairman Bruce Gordon says the Lake Horowhenua Trust is a fellow signatory to the Lake Horowhenua Accord and Te Mana o Te Wai funding will complement work already underway in the catchment.

“This announcement is really good news for Lake restoration efforts,” Mr Gordon said.

“Horizons has committed to co-funding some of these projects alongside Horowhenua District Council and we look forward to working in partnership with the Trust and the wider community for the good health of the Lake.”

Lake Horowhenua Accord chairman Matt Sword, who also chairs the Lake Horowhenua Trust, says that activities to benefit from the funding include further engagement and involvement of Iwi and the community in Lake restoration projects; and physical interventions to improve water and protect water quality such as stormwater treatment upgrades and additional biosecurity protection for the Lake.

He says the funding will also support research into further long-term lake restoration options including identifying the best ways to enhance fish populations in the catchment and research into the Lake sediment to investigate methodologies for removal of the sediment in an environmental safe and cost effective way.

Horowhenua District Mayor Brendan Duffy says the funding announcement is fantastic news.

“This is the best possible signal that the Accord partners along with the Government are utterly focused on Lake improvements and to receive this level of support ensures certainty to the programme.”

Department of Conservation chair to the Domain Board, Alan Mckenzie, sees this next phase of Lake improvements as “fundamental to the final solution of a fantastic cultural and community asset”.

More information about the Lake Horowhenua Accord including a copy of the Action Plan is available via Horizons’ website www.horizons.govt.nz

ENDS

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