February 22, 2016
Much work needed to clean rivers
Te Taitokerau MP Kelvin Davis has welcomed promised action to keep stock out of rivers, but is concerned it's coming too slowly.
Fines for farmers who let their animals pollute rivers and stream, as well as money for fencing and planting along waterways, are included in the government’s just-released consultation document on fresh water.
The Northland Regional Council says almost a third of the 900 farms inspected over the past three months still weren't compliant with the current rules.
Mr Davis says things have improved since Whangarei kaumatua Milan Ruka started his campign of kayaking up rivers and streams and reporting on infractions, but there is still too much damage by cows to the edges of the waterways.
The streams around Whangarei basically head towards the Kaipara Harbour and we are having trouble in the Kaipara with sedimentation building up and killing off kaimoana. That is the breeding ground for 98 percent of west coast snapper. On the other side sedimentation goes into the Whangarei Harbour and the Bay of Islands and Taumarere River. It is a move in the right direction, still a little way to go," he says.
Fish and Game has slammed the consultation document, saying it falls well short of what is need to address falling freshwater quality and will in fact weaken rather than strengthen existing environmental protection.
Chief executive Bryce Johnson says it's all about furthering water-based development at the expense of the environment, with no solid reference to recreation, food gathering or making rivers swimmable.
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