Water quality remains a mixed bag
The arrival of spring this September has seen Mother Nature trying to rapidly rectify our annual rainfall deficit.
Although it hasn’t deterred our spring pigeon visitors, who maintain a lofty view while I slosh around in the puddles.
The weather has been almost as changeable as the political fortunes of the various political parties vying for popular support over the last month.
Today, people who haven’t voted early will be heading out to polling booths around New Zealand to take part in the only poll that really matters and hopefully before the weekend is out, we will know who is going to lead the country for the next three years.
The election campaign has amplified the fact that improving water quality is important to many New Zealanders.
Everyone needs to play their part, this includes the dairy industry and other pastoral farming, but also urban communities, as highlighted by the recent discussions around consents for storm water in Invercargill.
Water quality in Southland remains a mixed bag.
There is declining water quality in some areas, particularly as you move down the catchments to the lower lying areas.
The main contaminants we monitor are nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, and e.coli which has been in the spotlight with the Government setting swimming targets.
Changes in water quality can be attributed to human activity over the past 150 years, with human settlement and increasing intensification of land use.
It will take time to turn things around, but there is a lot of effort going into lessening the impact by farmers, organisations and individuals.
And, I’m heartened by some encouraging monitoring results in recent times.
As Southlanders we need to support each other rather than get into finger pointing, and accept that ultimately improving water quality will require an investment by us all.
That will mean financial investments, but also changing some of our practices, whether that’s on our farms or around our homes.
The consultation period on the Mayoral Forum’s proposal for a Southland Regional Development Agency is underway and closes on October 2.
I would encourage anyone who has a view on what the vehicle for Southland’s regional development should look like to get involved and make a submission.
It is important that we get this right to ensure Southland remains a prosperous and great place to live.
I have picked up on a misconception among some people that the new structure will lead to the demise of Venture Southland. The intent is quite the opposite. Venture Southland will be incorporated into the new entity, forming the nucleus of a more broad-based and enhanced regional development agency.
Have a look on Environment Southland’s Facebook page at the video clips by the mayors, chairs and other community leaders for their views and aspirations for Southland’s future.
You can link through to the agency’s proposal and consultation document on all the councils’ websites, where you’ll see the different ways you can make a submission.
We would like to hear from you, so take a look and let us know what you think.
Environment Southland passed a milestone this week with the council approving the Regional Policy Statement, which will become operative on October 9.
It is five years since the proposed plan was released for public consultation.
My thanks to the councillors, commissioners and staff, past and present, who worked on this process.
It’s great to see a huge body of work completed.
This is our overarching regional policy document, which regional and district plans of all councils must give effect to.
This week the council also agreed to become a signatory to the Local Government Leaders’ Climate Change Declaration.
More than 40 councils have signed up so far, including Southland’s city and district councils.
It’s good to see local government become more proactive on climate change.
As a sector, we need to work more closely with central government to shape the national direction.
Climate change is an important issue that’s going to affect all of us and it’s essential we have a unified approach. Nicol Horrell is Environment Southland’s chairman.