Selwyn Times: June 07, 2016

SELWYN TIMES Tuesday June 7 2016 5
News
Lake quality improves
• By Bridget Rutherford
LAKE FORSYTH’S condition
has improved “remarkably”
with the recent rainfall after
recurring toxic algal blooms
flared up, killing animals.
Banks Peninsula Water Zone
Committee chairman Steve
Lowndes said the rainfall had
had a positive impact on the
lake’s water quality and condition.
“The water in the lake has
improved remarkably since the
rain and bad weather.
“It breaks up the algal bloom
and the wind has been blowing
left, right and centre.”
Last week, from Monday
night to Wednesday morning
the Cooptown weather station
near Little River recorded about
65ml of rain.
Mr Lowndes (right) lives next
to the lake, which runs from
Birdlings Flat towards Little
River.
The lake’s quality came under
fire in April when the algal
bloom flared up after a run of
dry weather.
The water was green with
toxic slime, and it was reported
30 sheep had died after drinking
it.
AT ITS FINEST: Environment Canterbury expects to see Lake Forsyth’s condition improve
further in the coming weeks, so its health warning can be lifted.
Environment Canterbury science
water manager Tim Davie
said the latest results from sampling
were from May 24.
“The concentrations of nodularia
(the toxic cyanobacteria) as
of May 24 have declined but are
still high enough to warrant a
health warning,” he said.
“We expect these to decline
significantly in the next two
weeks given the cold weather
and significant rain but at
present we have advised Canterbury
District Health Board of
the need for a continued health
warning.”
Wairewa Runanga and the
city council were granted a consent
in March to continue using
the pilot opening from the lake
to the sea for 35 years.
Lake Forsyth, or Wairewa, is
the only customary lake in the
South Island.
Ngai Tahu has the customary
title over it, meaning only iwi
members can fish for eel from
the lake.
•More on water quality, p10
In Brief
CENTRAL PLAINS WATER
The district council is looking to
buy shares in the Central Plains
Water Scheme to enable the
irrigation of its farms at Creyke
Rd in Darfield and the Hororata
Reserve. This would allow the
irrigation of about 188ha of
land. The estimated total cost
of irrigating the two properties,
including the purchase of shares,
is $1.788 million.
WATER MANAGEMENT
A ‘working draft’ Water
Conservation and Demand
Management Plan is up for
approval at tomorrow’s district
council meeting. The document
includes an improvement plan
for water demand management
in the future, intended to address
the need for sustainable and
efficient use of water resources.
BUILDING WARRANT OF
FITNESS
The district council are hosting a
free event for building owners to
discuss building warrant of fitness
requirements and responsibilities.
A building warrant of fitness is
a certificate which is renewed
annually and must be displayed
in the building. People interested
in attending must register by June
21. The event will be held on June
23 at the Lincoln Event Centre.