Demand for more time to study consider the changes planned for Lake Rotorua nutrient rules has prompted the Regional Council to allow the public more time to make submission.

The rules are a proposed plan change to the Regional Water and Land Plan, and are one of four parts of the long term solution delivered by the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme (RTALP) aimed at protecting water quality in Lake Rotorua.

A long term solution to improve water quality in Lake Rotorua requires new rules. Photo: file

Regional Council Chair Doug Leeder says, 'We received requests from various members of the community who wanted more time to consider the proposed rules and how they feel about them.

'These rules are part of a long term solution so we need to ensure that the rules are fair, achieve the necessary reductions for protecting water quality in Lake Rotorua and the community have had their say in the formal process.”

The proposed rules have been under informal consultation for the past two and a half years but the formal process kicked off when Regional Council publicly notified the rules on Monday 29th February.

Letters were sent to rural landowners to notify them of the proposed plan change, who they can talk to about what it means for them, what financial support is available to them to meet the requirements and how they can make a submission.

'If people agree or disagree we want to hear their thoughts so we can refine the rules. This is the formal process to tell us and only those who make a submission can speak at hearings, says Mr Leeder.”

Submissions on the proposed plan changewill now close at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, 27 April 2016. To make a submission visit www.boprc.govt.nz or phone the dedicated landowners advice line 07 921 3377 for more information.

The Lake Rotorua Nutrient Management – proposed Plan Change 10 to the Bay of Plenty Regional Water and Land Plan will affect rural landowners in the Lake Rotorua Groundwater Boundary.

For more information on the development of the rules and what it will mean for landowners visit www.rotorualakes.co.nz

The council has set aside $2.2 million for the Land Use Advice and Support service to support affected landowners.

Landowners can apply now to have a Nitrogen Management Plan developed by an approved independent land use advisor that shows how they will reach their nitrogen discharge allowance by 2032.