Ministry for Environment announced that two critical enhancement projects for degraded lakes in Hawke's Bay were being considered for significant funding grants yesterday.
Lake Tutira, north of Napier and Wairoa's Lake Whakaki were both gaining further consideration for funding from the ministry's Freshwater Improvement Fund, on top of council's Annual Plan "hotspot" funding.
The beleaguered Lake Tutira's action plan required a total $3,553,861 spread over five years, including $1,580,080 from the council. A total of $1.5 million had been applied for from the ministry.
The project aims to improve the lake quality with regards to the pressures including erosion, excessive nutrient loading, poor water flow, loss of connectivity and restricted fish passage, which have negatively affected the mauri of lakes Tutira and Waikopiro.
The funding will go towards developing an Integrated Catchment Management Plan, develop and implement farm environmental management plans throughout the catchment, reconnect Papakiri Stream to Lake Tutira, install an oxygenation system and implement a mauri monitoring programme.