MEDIA RELEASE
Horizons Regional Council 

Tuesday 25 February, 2014

Suite of projects tagged for fresh water clean-up funding

Horizons Regional Council look forward to implementing a suite of projects after it was announced today that central government  fresh water clean-up funding has been secured to contribute to the restoration of Lake Horowhenua.  

Environment Minister, Hon Amy Adams today announced that $540,000 in funding will be put forward to the restoration of Lake Horowhenua, complementing $730,500 of funding from Horizons Regional Council, Horowhenua District Council and industry.

Horizons chairperson Bruce Gordon acknowledged the involvement of a number of parties in producing the funding application.

“To receive this level of funding is significant and it is important to recognise the Accord partners and associated groups such as the Tararua Growers Association and Dairy NZ who have collaboratively worked together in support of the application,” he said.

The projects that were selected for the funding proposal were based on work carried out by Horizons’ scientists, alongside the National Institute for Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and Waikato University. 

The suite of eight projects were agreed upon in order to improve the suitability of the lake for recreational use, reduce the inputs of sediment and nutrients into the lake and to improve native fish populations in the lake. The clean-up fund project is one part of the work being carried out by the Accord partners. Horizons will undertake overall project management of this clean-up fund project and will lead the delivery of six of the projects while Horowhenua District Council will deliver the remaining two.

The suite of eight projects are;

• Purchase and operation of lake weed harvesting equipment

• Provision of a boat wash facility in Levin township

• Riparian fencing and planting

• Installing stormwater treatment systems

• Installing a sediment trap/treatment wetland on the Arawhata inflow to the lake

• Creating integrated drainage and sediment control plans for up to 500 ha of cropping farms

• Preparing sustainable milk production plans for dairy farms in the catchment

• Improving habitat for native fish and installing a fish pass to improve access to the lake for native fish

Mr. Gordon pointed out that the projects undertaken as part of the fresh water clean-up fund package are only one part of a wider clean-up strategy which is led by the Lake Horowhenua Accord partners.

“This is just one step in the process and we will continue to work with the Accord partners to restore the lake to its former healthy state,”

“Lake Horowhenua is a valuable asset for our Region, not only recreationally but also culturally and economically. As the Lake is restored it will once again become a key part of our community and a place that we can be proud of.”

The expectation is that a number of the actions will be carried out this year so the positive effects can start to be seen by next summer.

ENDS

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