Envirocare - April 2008 - Waikato Regional Council

envirocareAPRILYOUR ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS UPDATE FROM ENVIRONMENT WAIKATOWE LOVETHE WAIKATO RIVER!AS ANNOUNCED IN THEMEDIA RECENTLY, THE RIVERWAS VOTED THE REGION’SNUMBER ONE NATURALWONDER IN OUR ONEWAIKATO SEVEN WONDERSCOMPETITION, FOLLOWEDBY MT MAUNGATAUTARI,RAGLAN, WAITOMOCAVES, MT PIRONGIA,KARANGAHAKE ANDLAKE TAUPO.The hundreds of nominations we received covered129 places, highlighting the large number of taonga(treasures) that are special to Waikato people.The Waikato River’s rise to the top spot is perhapsa reflection of its dominance in our landscape andimportance to us all.The popular recognition of the importance of theWaikato River coincides with an exciting new era forthe management of the river now being ushered in aspart of Waikato-Tainui’s Treaty of Waitangi settlementwith the Crown.Under an agreement in principle, a Waikato RiverGuardians Establishment Committee has been setup to develop a vision and strategy to restore andprotect the health and wellbeing of the river.The committee, made up of representatives fromWaikato-Tainui, other river iwi, Environment Waikatoand nominees of the Crown (including district councilrepresentatives), met for the first time last month.One of the committee’s tasks is to decide how it willconsult with the public on the draft vision and strategy.This will be an opportunity for the whole community tohave a conversation about how to look after the riverand restore and protect its health and wellbeing forfuture generations, something Environment Waikatohas long been working towards.INSIDE356THISISSUE #552008SEVEN WONDERSWINNERS ANNOUNCED10 TIPSFOR PROTECTING OURNATURAL WONDERSLIQUID GOLDMAIZE EFFLUENT TRIALSWHAT’SGOING ON?DRAFT ANNUALPLANCheck out the four-page lift outinside detailing how your rateswill be spent and have your sayon our proposals.TOKOROAMore than $1 million has beensecured to help Tokoroa peoplecombat air quality problems.WEED ALERTWeeds never before found inNew Zealand may have beenintroduced to the Waikato viapotting mix.For full details of Waikato-Tainui’s draft agreement inprinciple with the Crown, visit www.ots.govt.nz.To find out more about the health of the WaikatoRiver, visit www.ew.govt.nz/waikatoriver.CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITEwww.ew.govt.nzQUICKFACTSMAUNGATAUTARI$2 MILLION FROM ENVIRONMENT WAIKATO’S NATURALHERITAGE PROGRAMME TOWARDS A PREDATOR-PROOFFENCE – DECEMBER 2007 FIRST KIWI CHICK BORN ONTHE MOUNTAIN IN OVER A CENTURYWAITOMO CAVES$175,000 FROM NATURAL HERITAGEPROGRAMME TO PROTECT THEHEADWATERS OF STREAMS FLOWINGINTO THE CAVESPIRONGIAPEST CONTROL OVER 75,000HECTARES OF PUBLIC ANDPRIVATE LAND – NATIVE BIRDSAND PLANTS PROTECTED

THE GREATDEBATEWHATADVICE DO YOU HAVEFOR RATEPAYERS AND RESIDENTSSUBMITTING ON THE 2008/09DRAFT ANNUAL PLAN?LAURIE BURDETTTONY ARMSTRONGThe more people who comment the easier it will be for us to make adecision that refl ects the communities' feelings. We appreciate yourcomments on aspects of the Draft Annual Plan you consider important,so please pick one or more issues and let us know your feelings.JOHN FISHERWhat’s the Draft Annual Plangoing to cost me? You canfi nd this on the EnvironmentWaikato website. Thenlook at the Draft AnnualPlan to see what you aregetting in return. You canthen submit your thoughtson the appropriateness ofthe spend on any activity.Is the plan delivering youraspirations for the region?PAULA SOUTHGATESupport Environment Waikato’s work? Want somechanges? Have your say! A sentence, a paragraph, apage – every view matters and can shape council’s futurework. This affects not only rates, but the social, economicand environmental wellbeing of our region. Your views onbus services and regional biosecurity are vital to a robustand balanced council debate.NORM BARKEREnvironment Waikato’s councilhas gone to the public with a6.8% rates revenue increase. Thisis considerably less than theprojected LTCCP increase of 12.4%.While 6.8% is outside the rate ofinfl ation I believe this is a responsiblebudget that will provide servicesto the community that are fi scallyprudent. Please let us know if wehave it wrong.ANDRA NEELEYThe Annual Draft Plan submission process can be daunting. To Tauporatepayers, I suggest looking at the overall range of activities, theactivities where we’ve specifi cally asked people for feedback, andTaupo district issues, such as pest management, air quality and riverand catchment systems. Then let us know what’s important to you.JANE HENNEBRYCouncil debated levels of service and cost of Hamilton citybuses (see the passenger transport options). My preferenceis the option which results in the lowest rates increase. Itdelays commencement of Sunday services and reducescosts by $800,000. The overall increase of 6.8% is higherthan I would like. Please let me know your views.IAN BALMEWhat results do you want from our region’senvironmental management? Better water quality?Regional parks? More emphasis on economicdevelopment? By telling us your priorities, EnvironmentWaikato can focus spending in the areas important toyou. Call me if you’d like to discuss any issues.Pest control is a region wide issue. To ensure our remaining indigenous habitatis protected and our upper catchments are kept stable, we need to ensure pestcontrol progress over the past 15-20 years is held by continuing to work withDOC and AHB. This year’s spend has a reduction from council’s long-term plan.Please have your say.PETER BUCKLEYAll debates around the council table clearly show Environment Waikato councillors areworking hard to strike the right balance between the environment, the economy and whatpeople want. A lot of work and discussion has gone into the work programmes we arepresenting for 2008/09 and it’s important that we hear your views on the cost of ourproposals. We encourage you to give us your feedback and look forward to hearing from you.FRANK HEALEYVigorous debate within councilhas resulted in this draft proposaland this, plus your feedback, willensure the views of our regionare accurately refl ected.SIMON FRIARI would stress to ratepayers thatthe Draft Annual Plan is just that– a draft. I urge you to read it,discuss it with your friends andlet us know whether you agreewith it or not, or whether thereare areas of further saving orexpenditure that you want.PAT GREGORYWe want to know what areas you think EW can make savings in and so reduceyour rates. You can view the Draft Annual Plan online and give us feedbackon the form at the back of the Envirocare liftout. Comments on any area ofexpenditure are welcome and may change the proposed 6.8% rate increase.Tell us what you think.ENVIROCARE 4 www.ew.govt.nz

BETTER BUS SERVICESENVIRONMENT WAIKATOIS RESPONSIBLE FORTHE PLANNING ANDMANAGEMENT OFTHE REGIONAL PUBLICTRANSPORT SYSTEM– THE FOURTH LARGEST INNEW ZEALAND.Public transport• helps to reduce traffi c congestion• allows people who can’t drive or don’t have a car to getout and about for work, study, shopping and recreation• is better for the environment.In October 2007, Environment Waikato updated its Regional PassengerTransport Plan (RPTP) and completed a regional network review.The 2008/09 Annual Plan is the fi rst opportunity to implement theoutcomes recommended by these documents and the council is seekingyour feedback on three funding options for Hamilton bus services.This affects only Hamilton ratepayers.OPTION 1Proposes that the new RPTP and recommendations from the network review be implemented unchanged.The cost of this option would see the passenger transport rate in Hamilton increase by $4.25 per$100,000 capital value, an increase of 13 per cent in 2008/09 over the previous year. Over the threeyears 2008 to 2011, this option has a higher up-front cost with the amount of rate increase requireddeclining steadily, year by year.YEAR 1Orbiter frequency and time span increase(July 2008).Hamilton Sunday services (September 2008).Hamilton West hours increase(September 2008).The Base (September 2008).Rototuna Dial a Ride (Feburary 2009).Silverdale Direct (Feburary 2009).YEAR 2Hamilton East service hours increase(September 2009).Eastern Loop (September 2009).Councillors request feedback on thisoption to inform their final decision.UPDATEOPTION 2OPTION 3Proposes delays of up to one year on the introduction of a number of the proposednew services from the original timetable, but no delays to introducing a Sundayservice. The cost of this option would see the passenger transport rate in Hamiltonincrease by $3.17 per $100,000 capital value, an increase of 10 per cent in2008/09 over the previous year. Over three years, this option has the steadiestamount of rate increase required, year by year.YEAR 1Orbiter frequency and time span increase(delayed to September 2008).Hamilton Sunday services (September 2008).Hamilton West hours increase (delayed toFeburary 2009).The Base (delayed to Feburary 2009).Silverdale Direct (Feburary 2009).YEAR 2Hamilton East service hours increase(delayed to Feburary 2010).Eastern Loop (delayed to Feburary 2010).Rototuna Dial a Ride (delayed toFeburary 2010).Councillors will consider feedback on thisposition when they make their decision.Proposes delays of up to two years on the introduction of a number of new services (including Sundayservices delayed to 2010). The cost of this option would see the passenger transport rate in Hamiltonincrease by $1.97 per $100,000 capital value, an increase of 6 per cent in 2008/09 over the previousyear. Over three years this option has a lower up-front cost with the amount of rate increase requiredincreasing steadily, year by year.YEAR 1Orbiter frequency and time span increase(delayed to September 2008).Hamilton West hours increase(delayed to Feburary 2009).The Base (delayed to Feburary 2009).Silverdale Direct (Feburary 2009).YEAR 2Hamilton East service hours increase(delayed to Feburary 2010).Eastern Loop (delayed toFeburary 2010).Rototuna Dial a Ride (delayed toFeburary 2010).YEAR3COUNCIL’SPREFERREDOPTIONSunday services (delayed toSeptember 2010).Councillors request feedback on thisoption to inform their final decision.For more information on the proposedLTCCP amendment, please see the fullDraft Annual Plan.A mangrove in flower.Over the past year EnvironmentWaikato has continued to workwith the community, iwi, agenciesand interest groups to develop anintegrated approach to managingthe Whangamata harbour andsurrounding land.This has resulted in the development ofharbour and catchment management plansfor Whangamata.In late 2007, Environment Waikatosought feedback from the community andstakeholders on the issues identifi ed inthe harbour plan and the priority worksproposed in the catchment managementplan, as well as options for managingmangroves.As a result of this feedback, the council hasdecided that the next step forward is forEnvironment Waikato to work with a multistakeholdergroup to review and fi nalise theproposals, priorities and timeframes. Thequestion of mangrove management will bedealt with as part of this process.This work will be carried out overthe 2008/09 financial year and anyproposed works and actions includedin the 2009-19 Long-Term CouncilCommunity Plan.

THE FINANCESYOUR ENVIRONMENT WAIKATO RATES FUND WORK THAT PROTECTS OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, KEEPS OUR COMMUNITIESSAFE AND INCREASES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR TRANSPORT NETWORKS.To achieve its plan of work for the 2008/09 fi nancialyear, the council is proposing a rates revenue increaseof 6.8 per cent, down from the 12.4 per cent increaseforecast in the long-term plan.Rates revenue will contribute $62.9 million towardthe proposed $91.9 million total revenue budget.The balance of income comprises governmentgrants, investment fund returns, interest, consent holdercharges, bus fares and other direct charges.The reduction from the long-term forecast has beenarrived at by cutting the regional pest managementbudget by $1.4 million.Further reductions have been achieved by deferringthe introduction of some bus services and reducing theProtecting Lake Taupo rate from $18 per property ayear to $16.60.The reduction accounts for the growth in the numberof properties in the region increasing contributions tothe Protecting Lake Taupo fund and will not affect theproject, the largest environmental initiative of its type.Environment Waikato estimates the impact of infl ationacross all its activities in 2008/09 will be 4.8 percent. This takes into account infl ation rates of seven percent in the transport sector from rising fuel and labourcosts, and a fi ve per cent increase in construction andcontract costs for river and catchment services.In dollar terms, approximately $2.5 million of the$4 million rates increase is required to cover theimpact of infl ation.Operating expenditure is up $1.6 million on lastfi nancial year.Work that will be funded by rates in 2008/09includes:• further improvements to Hamilton’s bus services,including the introduction of Sunday services andmore Orbiter services (only Hamilton ratepayersfund these services)• control of highly-invasive plants, such as alligatorweed, climbing spindleberry and old man’s beard• animal pest control throughout the region toprotect native biodiversity, maintain agriculturalproductivity, improve soil health and reduceerosion• a project to understand the effects of land useintensifi cation and deforestation in the WaikatoRiver catchment above Karapiro dam.SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENT2007/08 2008/09$000 $000Forecast statement of revenue and expenditureGeneral Rates 20,118 21,040Uniform annual general charge (UAGC) 8,294 8,788Targeted rates 30,473 33,063Fees and charges 26,788 22,577Investment income 6,130 6,426Total revenue 91,803 91,894Total cost of service 91,163 91,894Net operating surplus 640 0Forecast statement of movements in equityOpening equity 269,559 270,199Total recognised revenue and expenses 640 0Closing equity 270,199 270,199Forecast statement of fi nancial positionCurrent assets 5,319 (1,736)Non current assets 286,680 299,667Total assets 291,999 297,931Current liabilities 15,255 16,146Non current liabilities 6,545 11,586Net assets employed by council 270,199 270,199ASK US!If you’d like detailed information on yourproposed individual rates for 2008/09, please:• visit our website www.ew.govt.nz/ratesor• call Environment Waikato’s freephone0800 800 401.Have the valuation reference number of yourproperty ready, or just use your address andfollow the simple instructions.You’ll also fi nd the answers to many commonlyasked rates questions on our website,www.ew.govt.nz/rates. Alternatively call therates team on Environment Waikato’s freephone0800 800 401 or email rates@ew.govt.nz.A SNAPSHOT OF YOURRATESRates are made up from:• general rate – applied to all properties, basedon capital value• UAGC (uniform annual general charge)– a fi xed charge applied to all properties• passenger transport rate – only charged inHamilton, based on capital value• natural heritage rates – a uniform chargeapplied to all properties• Lake Taupo protection rate – a uniform chargeapplied to all properties (reduced from$18 to $16.60)• biosecurity rate – a single rate based oncapital value.Other rates may apply to your property, suchas catchment rates, Project Watershed or thePeninsula Project, depending on where yourproperty is located.WHERE OUR REVENUECOMES FROMForecast statement of cashfl owsNet from operating activities 7,756 5,901Net from investing activities (26,657) (19,214)Net from fi nancing activities 4,357 5,000Net increase / (decrease) in cash held (14,543) (8,313)Closing cash balance (6,515) (14,828)WHERE WE SPENDOUR MONEYFEES AND CHARGESINVESTMENT INCOMEGENERAL RATESGEOTHERMALERMALAIRWASTENAVIGATION SAFETYREGIONAL HAZARDSCOUNCIL-CONTROLLED ORGANISATIONSCOASTALBIODIVERSITYLAND AND SOILINLAND WATERSBIOSECURITYGOVERNANCE AND PARTICIPATIONATIONREGIONAL POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATORY SERVICESRIVER AND CATCHMENT SYSTEMSSTEMSTRANSPORT$0 $5,750 $11,500 $17250 $17,250 $23,000UAGCTARGETED RATES

HOW TO GETINVOLVEDAND HAVEYOUR SAY!We’d like to know your views on the:• 2008/09 Draft Annual Plan• amendments to the 2006-16 Long-TermCouncil Community Plan• draft Land Transport Programme.Read this Envirocare and consider the proposals,talk to your local Environment Waikato councillor,visit our website www.ew.govt.nz or call EnvironmentWaikato’s freephone 0800 800 401for more information.Submissions close on 1 May 2008. If you want to,you can present your submission in person to a specialmeeting of the council at the end of May.To fi nd out what your rates will be for 2008/09 underthese proposals, check out www.ew.govt.nz/rates.HAVE YOUR SAY!2008/09DRAFT ANNUALPLAN SUMMARYAMENDMENTS TO THE2006-16 LONG-TERM COUNCILCOMMUNITY PLANHOW DO I MAKE A SUBMISSION?Complete this submission form, fold, seal and send it to FreepostEnvironment Waikato, PO Box 4010, Hamilton 3247 before theclosing date of 1 May 2008.To submit online, visit our website www.ew.govt.nz or callEnvironment Waikato’s freephone on 0800 800 401.SUBMITTERName ................................................................................................................................................Group or organisation ..................................................................................................................Postal address ..................................................................................................................................Daytime telephone .........................................................................................................................Mobile .............................................................................................................................................Fax ......................................................................................................................................................Email .................................................................................................................................................I/We wish to present, my/our group’s comments to the council in person yes/no.Signed ...............................................................................................................................................Your submissionThe council wants to know as clearly as possible the issues that you are commenting on and the changes, additionsor deletions you recommend. If you are referring to a particular page, please indicate the page number next to yourcomments. Please type your submission or write it clearly in black ink, as it will be photocopied. Add extra pages ifrequired. Note that your submission and any information you supply as part of your submission is considered publicinformation and will be available in reports and documents relating to this process.THE COUNCIL WANTS TO KNOW YOUR PREFERRED OPTION FORPEST MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN THE REGIONOn a baseline animal pest budget of approximately $2.3 million and pest control deliveredover 353,000 hectares, please indicate your preferred level of service (tick one box only):OPTION ONEDeferring two operations(Te Kopia and Mokauiti),which would reduce costsby $132,000 and defer pestcontrol on 32,000 hectares.OPTION TWODeferring four operations (Te Kopia,Mokauiti, Awaroa/Whangapeand Kaimai/Mamaku), whichwould reduce costs by $295,000and defer pest control on 194,000hectares.OPTION THREEDeferring six operations (Te Kopia,Mokauiti, Awaroa/Whangape,Kaimai/Mamaku, Opuatia/PungaPunga and Waikaretu) which wouldreduce costs by $500,000 and deferpest control on 211,000 hectares.THE COUNCIL WANTS TO KNOW YOUR PREFERREDOPTION FOR BUS SERVICES IN HAMILTON(HAMILTON RATEPAYERS ONLY)OPTION ONEA range of new services includingmore Orbiter services, betterHamilton west services, The Base,Rototuna, Silverdale and Sundayservices. Passenger transport rate inHamilton increases by $4.25 per$100,000 capital value.OPTION TWOProposes delays of up to one yearon the introduction of a number ofthe proposed new services fromthe original timetable, but no delaysto introducing a Sunday service.Passenger transport rate in Hamiltonincreases by $3.17 per $100,000capital value.OPTION THREEProposes delays of up to two years onthe introduction of a number of newservices (including Sunday servicesdelayed to 2010). Passenger transportrate in Hamilton increases by $1.97 per$100,000 capital value.WE WELCOME FURTHER COMMENTS ON THESE OR ANY OTHER PROPOSALS IN THE 2008/09 DRAFT ANNUAL PLAN................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

EFFLUENTPROVINGSTATUS ASLIQUIDGOLDHELPS FARMERSCLEAN UP STREAMSWaitawheta dairy farmers Tinco Dijkstra and Sabine Niepagen have used the Clean Streams fund.SINCE 2002, ENVIRONMENT WAIKATO’S CLEAN STREAMS FUND HAS HELPED FARMERS BUILD901 KM OF FENCING TO KEEP STOCK OUT OF RIVERS, STREAMS AND LAKES – THAT’S FURTHERTHAN THE DISTANCE FROM WHANGAREI TO WELLINGTON.The fund has also helped farmers plant 287,000native trees beside waterways.Fencing and planting waterways is important forprotecting water quality, providing food and habitatfor aquatic life and improving biodiversity. We canprovide help and advice on fencing, as well as whatto plant and where, and may be able to providegrants for up to 35 per cent of the cost.In addition, we contract local nurseries to growappropriate, good quality plants so land ownerscan buy them at much less than retail price.More than 560 Waikato farmers have eithercompleted or are currently signed up to do CleanStreams projects, and a recent publicity campaigngenerated more than 80 enquiries frominterested farmers.For more information about the Clean Streams fundplease call 0800 800 401 and ask for your localland management offi cer.Mike and Sue Visser check outmaize grown with effluent.SCIENTIFIC TRIALS INTO HOWDAIRY SHED EFFLUENT CAN BEUSED TO GROW MAIZE AND DRAWUP EXCESS SOIL NUTRIENTS ARESHOWING EXCITING RESULTS.Environment Waikato secured a $324,000 grant from thegovernment’s Sustainable Farming Fund last year to helpcarry out the trials in conjunction with the Foundation forArable Research, DairyNZ and Genetic Technologies.The trials are investigating whether fertiliser inputs can bereduced or cut to zero when growing maize on effl uentblocks, and whether crops benefi t from having somefertiliser applied at critical development stages.“Effl uent blocks are quite often overloaded with nutrients,especially nitrogen and potassium, so it makes sense toplant maize strategically in these areas,” EnvironmentWaikato sustainable agriculture coordinator GabrieleKaufl er said.Ngahape dairy farmers Mike and Sue Visser said the fi rsttrial crops had shown no discernible difference to cropsgrown with commercial fertiliser and looked strong andhealthy. Results were similar on Wynn and Tony Brown’sfarm in Matamata.“There’s certainly no visual difference – if anything, withthe dry weather this summer, the crops on the irrigatedground possibly look stronger than some of the othercrops,” Mr Brown said.Soil samples down to 60 cm are being collected beforeand after cultivation, and dry matter yields will berecorded.“This will enable us to develop sound recommendations formaize growers in our region over time,” Ms Kaufl er said.SOIL CARBONRESEARCHIMPRESSESJUDGESUNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO STUDENT PAULMUDGE HAS WON THIS YEAR’S $5000DR STELLA FRANCES SCHOLARSHIP, JOINTLYSPONSORED BY ENVIRONMENT WAIKATOAND THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION.The scholarship was created as a tribute to Dr Frances,a former Environment Waikato councillor and DOCconservator who died in 2003.Mr Mudge, who comes from a farming background,is carrying out new thesis research to determine if thetrampling of wet pasture by cattle (pugging) affects soilcarbon content. The research is being conducted onone of DairyNZ’s research farms.Carbon is important for soil quality and structure,acting as the glue that holds soil particles together inclumps called aggregates. However, large amountsof carbon have been lost from some New Zealandpasture soils over the past 20 years.“We don’t know what has caused these losses, butit’s most likely that something has upset the balancebetween carbon inputs to the soil via photosynthesis(fi xing CO 2 ) and outputs via plant root and microbialrespiration (releasing CO 2 ),” Mr Mudge said.“Cattle pugging could be one possible mechanismcontributing to the carbon loss, because physicaldisturbance of soil tends to destroy soil aggregates,exposing previously protected carbon to microbes.These microbes consume the carbon and it is lost tothe atmosphere as CO 2 .”Mr Mudge hopes this research will ultimatelyhelp farmers develop farm systems that are sustainable,both from a production and environmental perspective.GET RIDOF HARMFULFARM CHEMICALSSINCE 1992, ENVIRONMENT WAIKATO ANDTHE MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT HAVEHELPED WAIKATO FARMERS DISPOSE OF 97TONNES OF DEREGISTERED OR UNUSEDAGRICHEMICALS.Last year we ran a highly successful agrichemicalcollection in the Otorohanga and Waitomo districtsand this year we are running one in Waipa from31 March to 24 April.Under the Stockholm Convention (which NewZealand is a signatory to) farmers must safely disposeof any persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on theirproperties. POPs pose a health risk to humans andstock and include aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin,endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene (known aslindane), mirex and toxaphene.Waipa farmers were sent a letter asking them toregister for the free agrichemical collection by7 March.If you did not receive a letter or would like moreinformation about the safe disposal of agrichemicals,please call our contaminated land and waste advisorMichelle Begbie on 0800 800 401.ENVIROCARE 5 www.ew.govt.nz

THE SECRET LIFE OF STREAMSKendal Hogg and Shaye Nobilocheck a clarity tube.ENVIRONMENT WAIKATO IS HELPING WAIKATO SCHOOL STUDENTSLEARN HOW TO MAKE OUR WATERWAYS HEALTHIER.More than 600 students have been on fi eld tripswith schools programme coordinator Dean Kingthis year, as part of the Enviroschools Rivers andUs learning unit. They looked at fi sh and aquaticinvertebrates (bugs) and compared pristine streamswith degraded streams.Glenview School teacher Anneke Esselbruggeand her class took part in February, visitingMangakotukutuku Stream in their Hamiltonneighbourhood and a stream in Karangahake Gorge.“We live in a gully area and a lot of the kids’houses back onto gullies, so it’s neat that you canhave something in the local area to study,” MrsEsselbrugge said.“I was surprised by how keen thechildren were and Dean reallyengaged them. We may go backto the local stream and do someplantings in conjunction with theMangakotukutuku Streamcare Groupand I’m really excited about that.”Environment Waikato has funding available to helpschools set up plant propagation units to help studentsgrow and plant trees along Waikato waterways.For more information please contact DeanKing on 0800 800 401.GRANTGREENS UPSCHOOLSFISHINGFOR INFORMATIONOUR SHELLFISH STOCKS ARE UNDERPRESSURE FROM OVER-GATHERING,POLLUTION, SEDIMENT FROMLAND DEVELOPMENT AND HUMANDISTURBANCE.Keeping an eye on changes in shellfi sh populations at ourregion’s beaches will help with their protection.This autumn Environment Waikato will be working on a pilotshellfi sh monitoring project in the Hauraki Gulf, through theHauraki Gulf Forum.The forum is a partnership between local and regionalcouncils, tangata whenua and government agencies. Itpromotes coordinated management of the Hauraki Gulf’senvironmental, cultural, recreational and economic resources.Year 12 and 13 students from Mercury Bay Area School’smarine studies group will survey shellfi sh species, size,abundance and distribution in the Whitianga estuary.By doing the survey annually we can compare shellfi shpopulations over time and see how environmental andhuman factors affect them.We hope to extend the project and work with other groupsto build a better picture of shellfi sh in our region.ENVIRONMENT WAIKATO HAS CONTINUED ITS DRIVE TO MINIMISEWASTE IN THE REGION WITH A GRANT TO HELP MORE THAN 50WAIKATO SCHOOLS SET UP RECYCLING PROGRAMMES.Council approved a $4651 grant from ourEnviroschools Grant Fund to the EnvironmentalEducation for Resource Sustainability Trust (EERST).The money will help to set up the trust’s Paper forTrees recycling programme in 52 schools in theOtorohanga, Waitomo and Taupo areas.Paper for Trees helps schools introduce systems forrecycling paper and cardboard instead of burningor burying it, rewarding students with native treesfor their efforts.It is already operating in more than 350 NorthIsland schools and was successfully introduced tothe South Waikato last year.GARBAGE AHOY!BEER BOTTLES, DIRTY NAPPIESAND CIGARETTE BUTTS WERESOME OF THE UNSIGHTLY ITEMSFOUND BY SCHOOL STUDENTSON COROMANDEL AND WESTCOAST BEACHES IN THE REGIONRECENTLY.Environment Waikato was involved with helping localschools clean up Waikato beaches during nationalSeaweek.“One of the most disturbing fi nds was a fi shing setnet, which we found at a Port Waikato beach in anarea where the endangered Maui’s dolphin has beensighted, ”Environment Waikato coastal communityfacilitator Sam Stephens said.Held from 2-8 March, Seaweek focused on the needto protect our oceans and coast.Students from Whangamata Area School, TairuaSchool, Mercury Bay Area School, Coromandel AreaSchool, Tapu School, Waiuku Primary School, ValleySchool in Pukekohe, Raglan Area School and Fairfi eldIntermediate School took part.Litter was taken back to the schools for a ‘waste audit’to see where it had come from, and suitable materialswere recycled.Waiuku Primary School Students at Karioitahi Beach.“While the amount of trash on our beaches wasdisappointing, it was great to get so many childrendirectly involved in helping to protect the environment,and learning about rubbish and recycling,”Mr Stephens said.ENVIROCARE 6 www.ew.govt.nz

$1MILLIONFOR SMOULDERING ISSUEMORE THAN $1 MILLION HAS BEEN SECURED TOHELP TOKOROA COMBAT AIR QUALITY PROBLEMS.Environment Waikato is part of a multi-agency projectto help the town reduce smoke from open fi res andold wood burners. This smoke contains tiny particles(PM 10) that are small enough to get into human lungsand contribute to serious health problems, such asheart disease.A pilot project to clean up the town’s air has beenunderway for some time, involving central government,Environment Waikato, South Waikato District Council,Waikato District Health Board, Raukawa Trust Boardand the Pacifi c Island community.Together, we have now secured $1.2 million to helppeople on low incomes insulate their homes andconvert to cleaner forms of heating.“We would never have got this funding without acollaborative approach and that’s what’s needed tohelp other towns meet the government’s air qualitytargets by 2013,” Environment Waikato plannerMegan Collins said.Environment Waikato has begun working to helpTHE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FORREGIONAL ENVIRONMENT(ACRE) CURRENTLY HAS AVACANCY ON ITS COMMITTEE.Bill Brownell (Kaiaua), Roy Dench (Te Awamutu),Stephanie O’Sullivan (South Waikato) and chairDr Catherine Smith ONZM (Hamilton) have beenre-elected to the committee, while Nigel McCarterGO ONHAVE A NAPENVIRONMENT WAIKATO TEAMED UP WITHA NUMBER OF OTHER COUNCILS ANDAGENCIES RECENTLY ON A PUBLIC AWARENESSCAMPAIGN UNDERLINING THE DANGER OFDRIVING WHILE FATIGUED.Fatigue is responsible for up to 20 per cent of allcrashes along SH2, a key route between Aucklandand the Coromandel.The campaign encouraged drivers to plan aheadand rest well before a trip. For drivers caught out tiredbehind the wheel, the campaign emphasised thebenefi ts of a ‘power nap’ for up to 40 minutes, in asafe place off the road.Information packs and promotional materials weredistributed and surveys measuring the effectiveness ofthe campaign were carried out.Ninety-four per cent of the 152 people surveyedafterwards were aware of the campaign and 50per cent were able to accurately explain a fatiguemanagement technique.other towns such as Hamilton, Putaruru, Te Kuiti andTaupo reduce air pollution caused by home heating.“But, as the Tokoroa pilot has shown, this is a complexproblem, and not something we can do alone,”Ms Collins said.“To succeed we need thebacking of the whole community.”In the meantime, people can help by insulating theirhomes and taking steps to reduce PM 10emissions.“If you can afford to replace your wood burner witha clean heating appliance, heat pumps, fl ued gasburners and pellet burners are good options, but weunderstand this isn’t possible for everyone,”Ms Collins said.“If you need to use a wood burner, you can still helpby burning hotter fi res that produce less smoke. Useuntreated wood that has been stored in a dry placefor at least six months and give your fi re plentyof oxygen.”(Hamilton) joins as a new member, bringing a specialinterest in ecology and fi sheries. Mary Hansen(Te Aroha) has retired after 12 years.ACRE’s 15 members work towards the long-termprotection of the region’s natural resources andhelp to advise Environment Waikato councillorsand staff. For more information please call CatherineRobinson on 0800 800 401.BUS TOBALLOONSAND V8STo reduce traffic congestion and carbonemissions, special bus services will operatefor Balloons over Waikato and theHamilton 400 V8 Supercar street race inHamilton this month.Park and ride services will run and citybuses will be free for the four days of theHamilton 400.For more information visit www.busit.co.nzor call 0800 4 BUSLINE (4287 5463).HONKINGGOOD SERVICEA 2007/08 survey of 800 Hamilton bus customersshowed 82 per cent rated the service as goodor excellent.This repeats a 2006/07 survey, where our servicehad the highest overall rating compared withAuckland, Wellington, Otago and Invercargill.I can safely move to anadult seatbelt nowKeep me in my boostertill I’m at least this tallTO BE THIS TALLAll children need the protection of an appropriatechild restraint until they are tall enough to fit anadult seat belt. For most children this is oncethey are 142-148 cm tall.This is one of the important messages EnvironmentWaikato has been helping ACC, the police and otherroad safety partners deliver to parents at car restraintcheckpoints across the Waikato this summer.Environment Waikato’s Ruben the Road Safety Bear hasbeen helping to spread the message through colourfulgrowth charts distributed at the checkpoints.“Motor vehicle crashes are responsible for about aquarter of childhood deaths in this country and lack ofan appropriate restraint is often a factor,” EnvironmentWaikato travel behaviour change coordinatorJo Carling said.“Some older children should still be using boosterseats and many parents simply don’t realise that it’sa question of height, not age, that determines whatrestraint they should be using.”R member: all children need theappropriate childl nough to fitENVIROCARE 7 www.ew.govt.nz

COUNCILLORS' CONTACTSKIWIBATTLERSOtorohanga Zoological Society PresidentNancy Jensen looks for radio tagged kiwi.Environment Waikato’s Environmental InitiativesFund is helping the Otorohanga Zoological Societykeep a close eye on the last two kiwi known to beliving wild in the King Country.Society president Nancy Jensen vividly remembersthe day the two western North Island brown kiwiwere found during a survey in 2004."AFTER REACHING DOWNINTO THE NEST TO RETRIEVEWHAT WE THOUGHT WAS ALONE MALE WE DISCOVEREDANOTHER FEMALE BIRD. WEJUST COULDN’T BELIEVE IT."The birds were fi tted with transmitters andOtorohanga Zoological Society volunteers are nowdriving a 250 kilometre round trip every six weeksto check on their movements.The project is partly supported by a grant from ourEnvironmental Initiatives Fund.The kiwi pair has not yet produced any fertileeggs and it may be necessary to make them partof a captive breeding programme. A decisionon their fate will be made by the Department ofConservation in the next few months.WEEDALERTIN THE WAIKATOMAF Biosecurity New Zealand recently announcedapproximately 30 weeds never before found in NewZealand were discovered in imported coco peat (atype of coir/coconut fi bre) shipped to the Waikatoand other North and South Island nurseries.The weeds were linked to coco peat imported fromSri Lanka, which was made into potting mix sent toPOWER TO THE PEOPLEEnergy, which powers modern society, isimportant to all our lives. To promote economicgrowth and maintain our standard of living, ourregion needs access to secure, reliable, affordableenergy supplies. But internationally we are movinginto an era of higher energy costs and soaringdemand, while climate change is creating theconditions for a carbon-constrained world.Environment Waikato has been facilitating thedevelopment of a Draft Waikato Regional EnergyStrategy to make key elements of the governmentenergy strategies work practically at a local level.The Whangamarino, a 7100 hectare wetlandbetween Mercer and Te Kauwhata, is home tomore than 20,000 water birds and one of the NorthIsland’s largest fern bird populations. It has other rareand threatened species including the Australasianbittern, black mudfi sh, bladderwort (a plant thatcatches and digests microscopic water creatures)and the swamp helmet orchid, which is foundnowhere else in the world.The Firth of Thames estuary, covering about 8500hectares, is one of New Zealand’s three mostimportant coastal stretches for both New Zealandand Arctic migratory shorebirds. Seventy-four species,many rare or uncommon, have been recorded there.The Kopuatai peat dome in the Hauraki district,covering around 9665 hectares, is the largestnurseries, plant propagators and growers, mainly inthe North Island. Coco peat is also used on its owninstead of potting mix.The potential risk of these weeds to our environmentand our economy is being analysed.Environment Waikato advises anyone who boughtplants from a nursery over the past four months todouble check for weeds and to destroy any suspectitems by disposal in their household rubbish or byincineration. Do not compost them. Instructions forthe treatment of coco peat based materials, alongwith photos of the weeds, are available on the MAFBiosecurity New Zealand website:www.biosecurity.govt.nz. Just follow the link onthe home page “coco peat/coir fibre”.Fortunately, our region is rich in energy resources,with the Waikato region producing approximately50 per cent of New Zealand's electricity whenrequired. We can play an important part ingenerating more energy from climate-friendlysources, becoming more energy effi cient, andhelping reduce our reliance on imported oil.Last November we hosted the Waikato RegionalEnergy Forum to get people thinking about theseissues. Ideas gathered will feed into the multistakeholderDraft Regional Energy Strategy.WEIRD, WONDERFULWETLAND CREATURESDID YOU KNOW THERE ARE THREE INTERNATIONALLYIMPORTANT WAIKATO WETLANDS?remaining peat dome in New Zealand. It is hometo a variety of rare and protected native plants andanimals, including the giant cane rush, creepingclubmoss, banded rail, marsh crake, Australasianbittern and North Island fern bird.These three wetlands are protected under theRAMSAR convention, an international treaty for theconservation and sustainable use of wetlands, whichNew Zealand joined in 1976.The Department of Conservation and EnvironmentWaikato are required to protect, promote, monitorand conserve our region’s wetlands. To fi nd out whatwe’re doing, and how you can help, check outwww.ew.govt.nz or www.doc.govt.nz.Name Constituency Phone Email Name Constituency Phone EmailTony Armstrong Hamilton (07) 829 8609, 021 224 4708 aiarm@xtra.co.nz Simon Friar Thames-Coromandel 027 592 6322 simon.friar@xtra.co.nzIan Balme Central Waikato (07) 829 8855, 021 719 920 ian@ianbalme.co.nz Pat Gregory Hamilton (07) 843 7755, 021 229 7524 pat.gregory@ew.govt.nzNorm Barker South Waikato-Rotorua (07) 883 1839, 027 270 9914 barker.n@xtra.co.nz Frank Healey Matamata-Piako (07) 888 1630, 027 432 9617 fj.healey@xtra.co.nzPeter Buckley North Waikato-Hauraki (09) 232 6777, 021 227 3436 pr.jm.buckley@xtra.co.nz Jane Hennebry Hamilton (07) 854 0223, 021 229 8591 jane.hennebry@ew.govt.nzLaurie Burdett Taupo (07) 378 3025 laurelb@xtra.co.nz Andra Neeley Waipa-King Country (07) 873 6946, 027 327 9233 neeleys@xtra.co.nzJohn Fisher Waipa-King Country (07) 827 3628, 021 229 8373 jmfi sher@xtra.co.nz Paula Southgate Hamilton (07) 856 1470, 021 589 957 p.southgate@paradise.net.nzVerdict 13916401 GREY STREET, PO BOX 4010, HAMILTON EAST 3247FREEPHONE 0800 800 401www.ew.govt.nzENVIROCARE 8 www.ew.govt.nz