Three new Freshwater Futures community groups, established to advise the Bay of Plenty Regional Council on decisions about water management in the Rangitaiki, Kaituna/Maketu and Pongakawa/Waitahanui catchments, have met for the first time this month.
The groups will help identify local community values for fresh water, inform local limit setting for water quality and quantity and assist in developing solutions for managing water in their catchment.
Regional Council chairman Doug Leeder said that the group members represent a wide range of interests in fresh water, as well as different stakeholder views.
"The groups will play an important role in helping us to implement the government's National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. We look forward to hearing their views and ideas as we work towards setting local water allocation limits, managing over-allocation and ensuring water is used efficiently," Mr Leeder said.
"We've started with the Rangitaiki, Kaituna/Maketu and Pongakawa/Watahanui catchments this year but similar work will roll out in other Bay of Plenty catchments from 2017/2018," Mr Leeder said.
Group members were appointed following a call for expressions of interest.
