Plan Change 10 (PC10) introduced by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council endeavours to lower the nutrient discharge from dairy farms into lakes.
It is not yet a done deal. The rule has been appealed to the Environment Court and should be heard sometime this year.
When I was a regional councillor in the 1990s farmers were asked then to start thinking about making changes to land use and farming practices. If they didn't they were told change would be imposed on them. It may have taken nearly 30 years but that day has now come.
I think a balancing act is required. And helping to get the balance right is the Lakes Water Quality Society.
It has been around for 20 years and deserves a prolonged round of applause for taking up the challenge all those years ago to bring attention and focus to lakes water quality.
The society holds its AGM on Auckland Anniversary Day each year. Considerately timed so that out-of-town property owners can attend too.
The society has had the benefit of many committed volunteers and members since it got under way.
Members pay a small annual subscription that goes towards helping the society undertake projects and research necessary to improve the quality of our lakes. They have already demonstrated they are in it for the long haul.
Professor David Hamilton of Waikato University at the time, was actively involved for many years along with a number of his research students.
Community leadership has been present with Ian Mclean, John Green and Willie Emery, among others, giving their time and expertise to support the restoration efforts on the lakes.
They believed by working with all interested parties, including Niwa, GSN, iwi, ratepayer and farming groups, further degradation could be halted.
They didn't just talk but were prepared to get stuck in and try to understand what was happening to our lakes across the Rotorua catchment. The range of problems and how to tackle them. Theirs was a call to action.
It's taken decades for our lakes to reach their current state and it will take decades to bring about sustainable change so we can see the improvements needed.
Work the society is currently involved with and undertaking with other partners includes: preventing the increase in catfish numbers, eradication of all invasive lake weeds, submissions to both the Regional Council and Rotorua Lakes Council, research, monitoring stream contamination, PC10 and data and information sharing.
I found the presentation by Professor Troy Baisden refreshingly easy to understand. He knows how to "put a picture to the science".
It's not complicated and he stressed that although we have a complex lakes system within the Rotorua catchment with many challenges, there are many solutions too. "We have to go beyond the science" he said.
Professor Baisden is part of a global community of ecoscientists. They are in frequent contact sharing information and data to construct a chain of evidence needed to support and inform the transformation required.
The health of our lakes isn't a problem for just lakeside communities or dairy farmers.
It concerns all of us and requires a whole of community approach to restore them, as near as possible, to their former glory.
We also need to understand there is a significant cost involved and what the end result and value will be.
Communication to a wider audience is a priority now for the society. They deserve our thanks for their efforts so far.
But we need to ask ourselves "what will be my contribution to improving lakes water quality"?
Everyone has a role to play.
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait is a Rotorua district councillor, Lakes District Health Board member and chairs the North Island Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency. She writes, speaks and broadcasts to thwart political correctness.
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait is a Rotorua district councillor, Lakes District Health Board member and chairs the North Island Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency. She writes, speaks and broadcasts to thwart political correctness.
