Fresh water emerges a big theme in this edition of Recount, which is a reflection of how important this resource is to the whole region.
David MacLeod, Chairman
Maintaining and improving freshwater quality is the driver of many of our programmes, including the flagship Riparian Management Programme. As you’ll have noted, we’re full steam ahead with riparian planting this season after a minor glitch because of myrtle rust. The vast majority of the millions of plants used in this programme are non-myrtle species, so the fungus can’t have a big impact.
We’re starting to reap the benefits of all the riparian fencing and planting that’s already been carried out. This is borne out in the results of long-term independent research focusing on water quality in the Waiokura catchment.
And have you met Tara and Reg? They star in a new comic series exploring aspects of Taranaki’s fresh water that may not be widely known or understood. The series is called Talking on Water, and you can find it in community newspapers, on the Council’s Facebook page, and on our website. Go to www.bit.ly/TalkingOnWater(external link).
Still on the subject of fresh water, you can read a summary of the Council’s submissions on the Government’s newly announced ‘swimmability’ targets. One of our major concerns is that Wellington hasn’t got a clear definition of the problem it’s trying to solve. We’ve urged them to go back to first principles and, for example, get more evidence on the extent of actual illness caused by elevated levels of E. coli bacteria in waterways.
In terms of maintaining and enhancing freshwater quality, Taranaki is making more progress than perhaps the Government and certainly some commentators seem to want to give our regional community credit for. The ‘Taranaki way’ is to get on and do things. It’s working
— David MacLeod
RECOUNT — Taranaki Regional Council's quarterly newsletter
Issue 105, June 2017