Lake pollution a disaster says MP

No quick-fix solutions exist for the central North Island's polluted lakes, a parliamentary select committee has been told.

National MP Nick Smith told the environment committee yesterday that the lakes near Rotorua were "an environmental disaster".

A health warning was issued this year after a cyanobacteria bloom broke out at Lake Rotoiti.

Lakes Okaro, Rotorua, Rotoehu, Rotoiti and Okareka have all been affected by poor water quality in the past year.

Lobby groups have accused Environment Bay of Plenty and Rotorua District Council of not ensuring good lake water quality.

Dr Smith said the Government was wasting millions of dollars on policy advice instead of getting in and fixing pollution problems.

"We have had over the last summer nothing less than an environmental disaster at Rotorua lakes.

"Yet the Rotorua District Council was given a Green Ribbon Award for its environmental reporting by the Environment Ministry."

He asked why more was not being done to fix pollution problems.

Environment Minister Marian Hobbs said lakes throughout New Zealand had water quality problems.

The Government was working with local councils and groups, such as farmers, to improve water quality.

Local authorities were responsible for setting and maintaining standards, but when the problem became too large, the Government became involved.

She said setting industry standards for water run-off, such as that agreed recently with dairy giant Fonterra, was an example of long-term preventive measures to improve water quality.

Environment Ministry chief executive Barry Carbon said algal blooms occurred naturally in nature, but increased amounts of nutrients in lake water had led to their growth.

Improving lake water quality could take several years and required controls on land surrounding it and on other hazards such as sewage.

Algal bloom

* Significant skin contact with water affected by the algal bloom can in some cases cause liver and nervous system problems.

* Some people may suffer skin rashes, asthma or hayfever attacks.

* The problem is caused by high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus from stock effluent, fertilisers and septic tanks.

- NZPA