Getting flipping serious at Lake Clearwater

The Team Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

“The time for talking is over and that time for action is now”.

That is how Ashburton District Council strategy and policy manager, Toni Durham, summed up the view of those involved in the Lake Camp and Lake Clearwater 30-year plan.

The council has adopted the 30-year plan that aims to reverse the degradation of Lake Clearwater/Te Puna a Taka, protect the character of the area, and ensure collaboration to achieve it.

Reports show that Lake Clearwater/ Te Puna a Taka is currently in a fragile state and its water quality is declining to the point that it is at risk of flipping, meaning it could reach a point of degradation that is difficult to reverse.

If the lake flips, it will have severe impacts on biodiversity, and the overall environmental health and recreational values of the area.

The 30-year plan is focused on ensuring that doesn’t happen and Durham said the challenge is the conflicting issues of the various parties, but they all have one goal.

“You have different values from different stakeholders but that’s actually the complexity with the entire area,” Durham said.

“Everyone is using it for different purposes.

“But the ultimate long-term goal is to protect the water quality.”

The plan’s purpose is to ensure appropriate action is taken promptly and it will guide funding decisions for annual budgeting processes.

Four goals are outlined and the actions that are planned to be undertaken to achieve them.

In preparing the plan, the consultation process received 153 submissions, of which 53% were bach owners.

The development of the plan also utilised work undertaken by Ōtūwharekai (Ashburton Lakes) working group, which includes members from iwi, local and central Government departments, and surrounding landowners.

While the council has signed off its 30-year plan for Lake Camp/ Ōtautari and Lake Clearwater/Te Puna a Taka, the Ōtūwharekai working group is developing an action plan for Ōtūwharekai which is expected to be completed by June 2023.

The goals in the plan are:

1: Avoid further degradation and restore the mauri (physical and spiritual elements) of the natural area.

2: Recognise and protect the area’s special character.

3: Recognise and value the areas social importance.

4: Ensure collaboration with mana whenua and between key stakeholders to meet a collective vision.