An excellent report in today's Southland Times (page - reproduced here in full) on Russel's visit to the Waituna wetland on Saturday. The only thing the Times left out was the photo credit to Dave Kennedy.
Saving lagoon is up to us: Norman
Green Party co-leader Russel Norman donned a wetsuit, jumped in his kayak and paddled the Waituna Lagoon at the weekend as part of his dirty-and-threatened-rivers tour.
Dr Norman had planned to visit the Oreti River but the crisis at Waituna was more important, he said.
He had visited the lagoon before, and said the changes that had occurred since were not visible to the eye.
"I think a lot of the changes that are happening require a closer look rather than a cursory once-over. It is still a beautiful place to go and hang out. It is a great asset we want to hang on to."
Dr Norman said the area was "obviously in great distress", and this was essentially because of too much nitrogen and phosphorous sediment getting into the lagoon.
"The impact of that is you are getting a buildup of algae and the die-back of fresh water plants that live on the bottom of the lagoon."
The danger was that the lagoon could "flip", becoming a muddy, non-aerated environment that would not support what lived there.
Currently the lagoon supported a lot of invertebrates, fish and birds, Dr Norman said.
"We have to dramatically cut the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous sediment and primarily that goes back to agricultural practices in the catchment where it is all coming from," he said.
Dr Norman said it was possible to turn the situation around and prevent the lagoon from flipping.
He compared it to patients in the emergency department of a hospital – they can either live or die.
"And it really depends on us which way it goes. It is in our hands to save the lagoon."
Dr Norman had met Department of Conservation and Environment Southland staff on Saturday, and had also met some of the local farmers and the landcare group.
"They feel very passionately about protecting the lagoon. There are some really tough changes that need to be made and they recognise the size of the challenge they face."
The next step was to take emergency measures during winter and get an idea of the size of the cut in nitrogen needed. He estimated about 50 per cent, and "strong rules" would be needed to achieve that.
Dr Norman said the National Policy Statement on Freshwater needed to be signed off by the Government and the rules must not be weakened.
kimberley.crayton-brown@stl.co.nz
6 comments:
Well done the ST for printing that.
Does the SRC have the power to make that happen (the "strong rules")?
Yes.
I'll get back to you on that one real soon!
Alistair's lill red rowboat would have been better.
True Bio, but red?
Am quite impressed by the way Russel Norman has handled his rivers tour. As you said on a previous post he is well researched. I thought his comments on the Nevis and also the Mataura were quite balanced. I am familiar with the Nevis having been through there a few times with Boy's Brigade groups on Mountain bikes.(Starting at Garstan and finishing near Bannockburn)Would be a shame if they dammed that river. What Russel said (about the Mataura river) when he stopped at Gore was more favourable than I thought it may have been considering the amount of dairying in the catchment.
With regard to the Waituna Lagoon. That needs action. Forget about CO2 Robert, you need to get that Council focused on the real polution!
Farmer Baby Boomer - re the Nevis, I'm pleased to hear you know the area so well, especially to hear that you've cycled it several times (as I have - walked it once too, most times from Garston to Bannockburn, once the other way - that's a steep start to a trip!). The business up there with Pioneer Energy is a typical attack on out-of-sight environments, to my mind, and the role of DoC in letting that happen, indicative of the 'new' National Party approach to the environment (back-room deals, trade-offs, loss).
As to Waituna, take my word, I'm not dithering over Co2. There's need for action and provoking some is high on my list (hence my hyped-up response on another thread :-) I've a letter in to the editor presently, had a bit of a say on CUE TV last night and am busy 'in discussion' with those I think can help. It's pleasing too that people who are similarly anxious about the lagoon are willing to ring me at home and make their thoughts known. I heard from one farmer last night who offered a very sound/exciting idea for the council to consider.
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