The State of the Environment Report
The State of the Environment Report allows the Council to assess the District's environment at a fixed point in time by:
- Comparing progress from the past to the present.
- Showing areas of change.
- Indicating possible future effects.
- Feeding back into the District Plan, Long Term Council Community Plan, Regional Plan and National Plan.
The primary benefit of this Report is that it groups the monitoring required by the various plans into a single document. It provides data that can be used to:
- Identify issues.
- Measure the effect of existing policies.
- Derive options for the future.
Responsible environmental management will make headway towards achieving sustainable development. This has been defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Sustainability includes all aspects of society: cultural, economic, social and environmental, both physical and ecological.
This Report, originally produced in 2003, generally indicates that our environment is in a pleasing state. However, it is apparent that there are some areas where improvements can be made.
The Report was updated in 2006.
In summary:
Flooding and faults
Flooding and faults are not major issues. Some erosion is evident, however there are positive steps being made towards managing erosion.
Stream quality
Stream quality is better than expected due to most headwaters arising in forested areas. This, together with rolling land contour, assists in keeping the stream temperatures low, which is necessary for fish and insects. The greatest threat is contamination by farming and wild animals. Initiatives to reduce these contaminants have been identified, like fencing the river banks.
Sources of contamination
Sources of contamination are principally from service stations, waste disposal and wood processing. The potential impact that these contaminants have on the ground water has been identified. Waste disposal and means of reducing the pressure on landfill space has been identified as a priority.
Ground water
Ground water originates in the hills on the east and south of the District. High rainfall and porous rock provide an abundant water supply. Water flows in a northwest direction from Tokoroa and south from Kinleith. The low mineral content of the rock means that the ground water is pure and clear in most places.
Residential areas
Residential areas are facing some air quality problems from wood burning fires and industry. Some industries and farming practices generate odour, which can also be a problem.
Traffic
Traffic is considered low density, which makes air pollution from this source a minor issue. Noise is an issue and predominately associated with the criss-crossing state highways. Land use in the District means that there are a large number of heavy vehicles using the roads.
Scenic areas
Scenic areas in the District are numerous and can be enjoyed in limited areas by the provision of walkways and reserves. There are a number of indigenous forest remnants in the District. The Waikato River provides a potential for recreation and enjoyment. The river and lake systems are not natural but were formed to take advantage of the gorges, which provide opportunity for hydro electric power generation. The lakes of the District provide 10% of the nation's power.
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