Lagoon scheme studied

Recommendations to improve the health and mana of Wainono Lagoon were put to Environment Canterbury (ECan) last week.

They were set out in the Lower Waitaki, South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee’s zone implementation programme addendum (ZIP), and covered nutrient limits and freshwater flows in the area from Morven Drain to the Otaio catchment.

During the development of the draft addendum, a community-led group was formed to develop nitrogen allocation options that provide more flexibility for lowemitting land users.

The framework developed by this group is now part of ZIP.

Increase in tributary flows over time and increase in the amount of land that can be irrigated in the Wainono Lagoon are also part of ZIP.

It also includes recommendations for rules as well as for improved land-use practices, which together should improve water outcomes in the area.

In the northern streams the addendum aims to improve flows and habitat over time and protect water quality.

The Wainono Lagoon restoration project enables land users to stay within good management practice requirements on their discharges for nitrogen.

The addendum will be delivered to the Waimate and Waitaki district councils in September and will then guide the development of the South Coastal Canterbury subregional sections of the Land and Water Regional Plan.

This Resource Management Act process will involve notification of the variation to the plan, a call for submissions, followed by a public hearing run by a panel of independent hearing commissioners.