It's that time of the year when local government have put their draft annual plans before the public requiring comment and ideas. We have attended the combined raodshow for Taupo District Council and Environment Waikato which sought input into Lakeshore Erosion and Flood Strategy and on Landscape and Natural Values plan changes.

 

Your committee has responded and made submissions as requested to both Taupo District Council and to Environment Waikato. I ask you to consider where to look with regard to Lakeshore erosion and flood strategy. A natural Feature, Lake Taupo is effectively dammed by the installation of control gates which have the ability to cause the lake to rise, then who or what causes lakeshore erosion and flooding? Would Lakeshore erosion and flood ing occur when the lake is low? I think not.

But it would if the lake was at a high level particularly when a heavy rainfall period occurred as was the case in 2004. Luckily, the lake is at a low level today as I write for we have had more than 75mm in the last 24 hours.

 

We accept the need for electricity and that electricity from water generation is a good thing. Surely there is a solution by which local government can ease the problems of Lakeshore erosion and flooding without it being a cost to the ratepayer. We have a solution which we want to be able to put to councils and we hope to do that through the hearings by both Taupo District Council and Environment Waikato. We believe that it would be to everyone's advantage for Stuart Crosbie to have the opportunity to have his paper heard and even more that it be adopted.

 

With regard to the Landscape and Natural Values plan changes we are delighted that finally Taupo District Council have accepted the Tongariro River as an outstanding natural feature. The council can be forgiven the difficult task they have to reduce the features of the area to a few with so many outstanding features in their district. Initial plans did not include the Tongariro River but they have changed the designation and it is now included. It means that council has a responsibility to see the river maintained and protected in the future.

 

The committee has met with Genesis staff and have developed friendly and useful dialogue and a clear understanding of each other's needs.

 

Our President is a member of the Central North Island Partnership group that seeks to have a response to Didymo. There is I think a belief that everyone is doing their bit to keep Didymo out of the North Island and out of the Taupo Basin. my observation is that people are only paying lip service. We think that Dave Cade working with money from BNZ but employed by DoC Fishery is doing a wonderful job. His pay is low and his hours are few but he sells an effective message. We congratulate you Dave for your wonderful effort. We would like to see more Dave Cade's in our area to protect the Tongariro and all the rivers in the Taupo Fishery.

 

Fish and Game have put a paper together asking for opinion on the banning of felt soled waders in all but the Taupo Fishery, given that felt soled waders are regarded as a danger in moving Didymo between waterways. We fully support the position.of a ban.

 

John Toogood, a committee member, has been working hard for the restoration of the river margins to their natural state. This requires funds to eliminate the wilding pines and we seek help in funding to complete this task. We are grateful to WCEET The Waikato Ecological Enhancement Trust for their financial support and support in general in funding efforts on elimenation of wilding pines and of our planting programme. John has stuck determinedly to this task and we see signs of success.

 

Finally I would like to pay tribute to Dr Mark Cosgrove who was made the first Distinguished Member of the Advocates For The Tongariro River. The letter announcing this to Mark read:

"As the founding president, your vision generated direction and put the Advocates on the map, and the calibre of your thinking, leadership and aspirations for the Society were crucial in shaping a solid foundation.

It is in large part due to the profile you forged for the Advocates during your years as president, and the sheer hard work you put into getting that profile recognised and respected, that has earned credibility for the Society, and a seat at the table."