Water quality, buses to fore

INCREASED environmental monitoring, and more collaborative networking over Otago Harbour and Dunedin public transport, are among highlights of the Otago Regional Council’s latest proposed longterm plan.

Plan hearing panel chairman Cr Doug Brown said the panel had taken a ‘‘positive’’ step forward, partly in response to strong signals from the community, including submissions to the panel this week.

‘‘There’s a lot of passion in the community. They want us to get on with it, in terms of fulfilling our environmental responsibilities, and that’s what we’re endeavouring to do,’’ panel member Cr Bryan Scott said.

Cr Scott, who moved several recommendations yesterday, said the council, and panel, had ‘‘stepped up’’ and ‘‘taken on more responsibilities’’, including over freshwater monitoring, and continuing efforts to improve water quality in Lake Hayes.

He acknowledged an increase in collaborative networking, including approving a new joint Harbour Liaison Group, backed by the Dunedin City Council, over shared Otago Harbour management; and jointly between the regional council and DCC over Dunedin public transport matters.

‘‘We can’t do all this on our own’’, he added.

Cr Michael Deaker said water quality problems in Lake Hayes were longstanding, and his own children had become ill while swimming there many years ago.

The panel has also supported establishing a technical group to advise on lake water quality issues.

The general rates were initially proposed to rise from the current $7,275,000 to an estimated $8,713,000 for 201819, in the new draft 10year plan.

Regional council officials said the panel’s recommendations yesterday were expected to raise that rate by about a further $95,000.

Council corporate services director Nick Donnelly said some details of the proposed funding had yet to be finalised.

Some further funds would be sought from general reserves, and from other specialised funds, including the Environmental Enhancement Fund, Mr Donnelly said.

The panel yesterday spent about six hours finalising its recommendations on the plan, which will next month be considered by the council’s finance and corporate committee, which is chaired by Cr Brown, and then by the full council.

Cr Brown acknowledged that the panel had recommended boosting the number of fresh water monitoring sites to 90, from the existing 65.

There would also be boatbased monitoring of alpine lakes, and three lake buoys installed, including in Lake Hayes, over the next four years.

The council had initially recommended that 75 sites be used, he said.

The panel also proposed increasing support, including for the potential laying of related water pipes, to improve water quality in Lake Hayes, after receiving many submissions seeking more action.