Andy Loader questions the proposed action plan for Lake Waikare and the Whangamarino Wetland, asking where the cost-benefit analysis, scientific evidence and measurable outcomes are for a project estimated at $1 billion. He argues that government decisions have contributed to the environmental problems, particularly water flows and koi carp, and challenges whether local ratepayers should bear the cost of remediation.
Over the last few weeks there has been a lot of talk about the proposed Action Plan to improve water quality in Lake Waikare & the Whangamarino Wetland. In the latest issue of the Te Kauwhata community newspaper (The Chatter) Chris Davies, under the headline of “Decision Time for Lake Waikare and Whangamarino” comments on the issues that are causing the degradation of the water in these catchments and raises reasonable concerns accepted by landowners and the community.
Questions that haven’t been answered although they’ve been asked several times by the Landowners, and which the community should ask too, are; where is the cost benefit analysis for this transformational and aspirational action plan? Where is the scientific data that supports the proposed changes (such as reafforestation and less intensive farming), on the quality of the water entering the Waikato River at Mercer?
The costings for this plan to clean up the Lake Waikare/Whangamarino Wetland & the measureable outcomes need to be known before anyone can agree to the plan being implemented. It has been estimated that the proposed Action Plan will cost $1Billion dollars.
The only outcome that has really been mentioned in this conversation has been the (HOPED FOR BUT NOT GUARANTEED) improvement in water quality with very little in the way of measurement of the expected outcomes explained.
It is mentioned in this article that the details around the plan such as, who pays – and when any actions might be contemplated is yet to be decided.
Surely WRC should have explained these details so the community could make informed decisions on who pays and how, given the likely impact on rates of this action plan.
With people expressing that the cost of living is a big issue and the local government rates are a major issue, perhaps its time we look at a new way to fund this action plan if it is adopted.
The Hon Tama Potaka, Minister of Conservation, has pledged $2 million to help control Koi Carp. We have yet to find out where that money will go but it is most likely that it will be given to the WRC or DOC to administer. It is also most likely that a significant portion of that funding will then be allocated to cover the expenses for the bureaucracy to manage this process.
Over the past decades since the 1980’s we have seen numerous studies and planning actions undertaken in regard to Koi Carp which have involved the spending of many millions of dollars of ratepayers money with no actual results in eradicating or controlling Koi Carp. Huge spending and no dead carp!
Why not set up an investment fund much like the Waikato River Authority set up. Income from this fund could then be used to fund the ongoing investment in cleaning up the Lake Waikare/Whangamarino Wetland, whilst still maintaining the original funding capital and providing an ongoing source of further funding from interest. This type of investment fund could then also be used to attract further investment of funding from other sources.
Any such investment fund should be managed by an independent trust board.
The major issues that have been raised by the Landowners are;
- Flushing of Lake Waikare:
(Due to the extremely successful flood protection scheme instigated by Government for the greater good, which was put in place in the 1960’s? Thus we believe that investigating and recommending the best possible remediation options should initially lie with Government).
- Koi Carp:
(Control of Koi Carp is the responsibility of DOC under legislation related to pest fishes).
- Sediment:
(Koi Carp is a major contributor in releasing sediment into the waterways and keeping it in suspension. Until some action is taken to either eradicate or control Koi Carp the problem related to excess sediment in the waterways is never going to be able to be solved).
- The weir in the Whangamarino River which was put in place by DOC & Fish and Game back in the 1990’s.
(This needs to be removed as soon as possible to allow the flushing of the Whangamarino and Maramarua rivers).
These major issues came about as a result of government decisions and as such we believe that the remediation costs should be a responsibility of the government and not be placed back on to the ratepayers of the Lake Waikare/Whangamarino Wetland Catchment to fund.
Any good business plan should have a cost benefit analysis to identify whether the proposal is economically viable, practically doable and has measureable outcomes attached.
This plan under the present proposal doesn’t meet any good sensible business criteria and should not be put forward.
Whilst there have been many good environmental improvements made in the greater catchment, particularly over the last 20 years or so. These improvements along with the investment urban Te Kauwhata has made in improving sewerage and stormwater discharges will be of little value unless the well documented need for Koi Carp control/eradication is acted on as soon as possible.
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The current Co-chairman of P.L.U.G (Primary Land Users Group), Andy Loader was elected to the board as the extractive industry’s representative in 2013 after a long and distinguished career in the industry. Responsible for the board’s communications, he has long been an advocate for the farming and primary industry challenging the powers at be to provide accurate and transparent representation of the industry and the issues it faces.