Policies to help improve Lake Rotorua's water quality are to be developed during the next six months.
The policies, being established by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council in conjunction with Te Arawa Lakes Trust and the Rotorua District Council, will aim at reducing the flow of nutrients into Lake Rotorua
and increasing efficiency of land use around the lake to improve water quality.
Regional council project manager Anna Grayling said good progress had been made to improve some lakes, including Rotoiti and Okaro but Lake Rotorua remained a challenge.
"This year we will be focusing on developing policy to support land use change, in-lake and in-stream actions and operational works for land use change.
"Operational works will continue to treat nutrient-rich flows to the lakes and nutrients within the lakes. Further research and development will assist with delivering the most effective tools to do this."
A strategy was signed in 2000 and an extensive programme was put into action, aimed at protecting and enhancing water quality in 12 lakes with $200 million in government funding. Lakes Rotorua, Rotoiti, Rotoehu and Okareka were identified as high priorities.
Lakes Okataina, Tikitapu, Tarawera and Rotoma were in good condition and lakes Rerewhakaaitu, Rotokakahi and Rotomahana were not of as much concern, Ms Grayling said.
"In conjunction with our partners, we have made solid progress towards the long-term restoration of the priority lakes."
A pilot denitrification plant has been constructed at Tikitere geothermal field and benchmarking nutrient outputs from properties is under way in the Rotorua catchment, with nearly 70 properties completed.
An action plan has been completed for Lake Rotoma and a collaborative relationship established with Lake Rerewhakaaitu farmers.
"They are well on the way to having nutrient management plans in place on all large farms," Ms Grayling said. "Although we are doing well to halt the decline in water quality in our most degraded lakes, we must be vigilant in protecting our best as well.
"Some of our most pristine lakes are showing some signs of water quality decline. Most are still clean with no algae blooms, but we want to make sure they stay this way."
