Waikato to pay for protecting Lake Taupo

By ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE

Protecting Lake Taupo will come at a cost - particularly to ratepayers in the Taupo district and the Waikato region.

The Government has already said taxpayer funding to the tune of $36.7 million will meet 45 per cent of the $81.5 million bill.

Environment Waikato and the Taupo District Council yesterday revealed their proposed contributions towards cutting the amount of nitrogen runoff into the lake by 20 per cent over the next 15 years.

Taupo ratepayers will cough up $17.9 million and those in the rest of the Waikato region will make up the 33 per cent remainder of $26.9 million.

Because Taupo district is part of Environment Waikato's region, its share will be a combination of regional and district rates.

Taupo Mayor Clayton Stent said it was generally accepted that people who lived in the area and enjoyed the lake would need to contribute financially.

"While $18 million is a significant contribution from a relatively small population base, we have to acknowledge the problem and help to do something about it," he said.

Rural landowners within the Lake Taupo catchment had been identified as the largest contributors to increased nitrogen levels. But there were only 700 of them.

Environment Waikato chairman Neil Clarke said his council had had overwhelming support from the community to take action.