LGNZ freshwater modelling report
Local Government New Zealand’s Regional Sector Water Subgroup is proactively releasing a report assessing some of the potential impacts from the reforms proposed under the Essential Freshwater Package, noting that the research needs to be carefully used and considered.
The Regional Sector Water Subgroup, was one of the four advisory groups that worked with the Ministry of the Environment to inform the development of the reforms.
“While the Government’s Freshwater discussion document proposes various important interventions to improve freshwater, one very important question raised is whether the proposed Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) and Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus (DRP) standards should apply nationally or on a more targeted basis,” said Vaughan Payne, Chair of the Regional Sector Water Subgroup and Chief Executive of Waikato Regional Council.
“This is a question that needs to be answered because we know that there are multiple factors that affect ecosystem health, the impact of nutrients as a stressor varies considerably around the country, as well as between catchments.”