But a huge commitment by local farmers, community groups, government agencies and the regional council meant water quality targets for the West Coast’s largest lake were reached five years earlier than planned.
“The success of the programme to restore the water quality of Lake Brunner is an example of how community, regulatory and business interests can come together to produce an excellent result for the environment,” council chairman Andrew Robb said.
The result was also a win for lake users and the reputation of New Zealand’s farm products in overseas markets.
“Thanks to the huge amount of co-operation we have received from the community and farmers, especially the Brunner catchment shareholders of Westland Milk Products, we achieved that target this year,” Robb said.
Water quality monitoring in Lake Brunner indicated deteriorating trends for nutrients and water clarity.
Of most concern were the levels of phosphorous in the lake, traced mainly to run-off from surrounding farmland.
From the early 2000s the regional council worked with farmers to improve water quality, focusing on compliance with regional council rules and improving farm practices.
Robb said the enthusiasm and financial commitment from farmers was a major success factor, especially in dairying where the installation of effluent containment systems cost some farmers up to $300,000.
Community and iwi groups had also stepped up, helping with riparian planting initiatives in public areas.
“Westland’s farmers then focused on preventing direct discharge of effluent into waterways, improving fertiliser management and preventing stock access to waterways.”
Matt O’Regan
Westland Milk
Westland Milk chairman Matt O’Regan said the co-operative was dedicated to helping the Lake Brunner water quality programme.
With the council, Westland helped identify that land disturbance, fertiliser application regimes and effluent management were contributing to the phosphorus build-up in Lake Brunner.
As a result, the regional council updated the rules in its regional land plan and farms in the catchment were now subject to the strictest regulations in the region.
“Westland’s farmers then focused on preventing direct discharge of effluent into waterways, improving fertiliser management and preventing stock access to waterways,” O’Regan said.
“Westland supported the initiative by having its environment manager visit each Brunner catchment shareholder and work with them to draw up individual farm management plans to help them comply.”
Both O’Regan and Robb noted that farmers responded with enthusiasm, many going well beyond the minimum regional requirements.
In addition to new plant, many invested heavily in riparian fencing and planting and installing stock crossings over waterways.
The Ministry for the Environment, AgResearch, Landcare Trust, NIWA and DairyNZ also contributed to the water quality result.
Environment Minister Nick Smith was on the shores of Lake Brunner-Te Kotuku Whakaoka to help celebrate the achievement.
