Andrew von Dadelszen Former Regional Councillor

Environmental activists continue to slag New Zealand for its deteriorating water quality issues, but in fact there has been substantive progress in the last few years.

We need to celebrate our successes – not just slag everything – and the restored water quality of Lake Rotoiti is an example in point. The chair of the Rotorua Lakes Water Quality Society recently reported that water clarity has vastly improved as a result of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's investment in a diversion wall that has moved 70 per cent of the nutrients from Lake Rotorua diverting straight into the Kaituna River. The result has seen water clarity improve from less than a one metre visibility to around eight metres. This is an outstanding success story, and too easily forgotten by the naysayers.

The mechanical clearance of around 100 hectares of mangroves in the Tauranga Harbour is another example of a job well done. All too often we hear negativity from the activists – but a recent report to our regional council by the water science and support manager informed councillors monitoring results showed within 18 months the sediment at mulch sites has continued to trend back towards the condition of adjacent sand flats. This is great news for our harbour, and the urgency now is for further affirmative action to reduce the mangrove spread. Let's get the next 100 hectares of mangroves consented and cleared.

We are all too quick to knock the bureaucracy, and forget to celebrate our successes. We can have a sustainable environment without isolating ourselves from sound economic realities, and we need to be proactive in looking for opportunities and not just keeping our heads stuck in the sand. The potential of our marine environment is huge for our economy – especially for us here in the Bay of Plenty – so let's positively promote a sensible mobilisation of our mining and oil and gas exploration potential, and not get spooked by the negativity of the likes of Greenpeace and other left wing activist organisations. The key is to ensure that we take a science based approach to good environmental decision making.

If you have a view on these or any other local government issues, I invite you to email me: [email protected] or visit www.vond.co.nz