Big tick to Land and Water Forum report

Water industry conference gives big tick to Land and Water Forum Report.

More than 850 water industry professionals have gathered in Christchurch for the Water New Zealand Conference & Expo 2010 including a special forum on the Canterbury earthquake recovery.

The conference coincided with the release of the Land and Water Forum Report - tasked to provide recommendations to improve the management of New Zealand’s fresh water.

“The consensus here has been a big tick for the Forum’s recommendations and the clear direction it sets out, particularly the need for national standards and setting limits for our water quality within the Resource Management Act framework,” Water New Zealand chief executive Murray Gibb says.

“For 19 years water regulators have been operating in a policy vacuum, with the Act not being effectively implemented. This lack of central direction through mandatory standards and policy statements has hampered the performance of regional councils as resource managers.”

“Delegates endorsed the Forum’s recommendations and the successful collaboration of the interested parties that got together and contributed to the process. It’s a promising sign for the future.”

“The Canterbury earthquake and the release of the report were timely for the conference, reinforcing how crucial water infrastructure is to our daily life and our biologically based economy.”

“The earthquake forum revealed some of the tremendous work being done to repair damage to infrastructure and restore normality for the community.”

“Visiting US disaster recovery specialists said that they would not have expected the region to be at this stage of recovery for another three months. That is a hugely positive endorsement of the work being done by infrastructure staff in Canterbury.”

The focus of the conference has been on water which is New Zealand’s key strategic resource. Delegates have looked at ways water can be used to support future economic growth.

“Both the earthquake and the Land and Water Forum’s report have absolutely reinforced the message that water is vital to our economy. With good policies based on sound research we can use it to improve New Zealand’s performance. This message was reinforced time and again throughout the event.”

Water New Zealand is a membership organisation focusing on sustainable management and development of the nation’s freshwater resource. It represents interests from across both the public and private sectors.

The Water New Zealand Conference & Expo has been held at the Christchurch Convention Centre, 22-24 September.

ENDS

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