Protecting freshwater Two years ago, the Government released its vision for improving our degraded rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands. A key part of this vision is the principle of Te Mana o te Wai which prioritises the health and well-being of waterbodies and freshwater ecosystems over the use of freshwater. It's required us to work on new rules and other actions we can take for activities that impact freshwater to meet the government's expectations We're doing a lot of background work to understand what improvements we need to our freshwater. While we have yet to consider what the new rules and actions might be, the reality is that the changes required are big, they're complex and they need to happen. We'll share more detail with you on what the changes might look like when we release a new freshwater draft plan change for public consultation around this time next year. We'll also be sharing a lot more detail about the process, the background work and the draft plan itself very shortly so rest assured, you'll have ample opportunity to tell us what you think. We have set up two separate advisory groups to help guide the process and development of the draft plan. One is a group of tangata whenua Eight $3000 T i te ora Scholarships awarded Eight $3000 Northland Regional Council scholarships designed to provide a springboard for future environmental leaders and champions have been awarded. We received 40 applications for this year's 'T i te ora Scholarships' which recognise, encourage and support students to undertake study, research or training that relates to our environmental and regulatory functions, whilst contributing to council's vision 'Our Northland - together we thrive'. Winners were; Tayla Bamber, Fern Donovan, Rosa Harper, Aya Morris, Josh Otene, Maria Secker, Shavonne Toko and Taiawhio Wati. More information on the winners is available at: www.nrc.govt.nz/scholarships2022 freshwater technical experts, and the other the Primary Sector, What we do know right now is that the Goverment has said we must improve our freshwater in areas which are below a certain level (called a "bottom line") and there are many places in Northland where our freshwater is not meeting that bottom line such as for E. coli, sediment, and freshwater insects. We know this through the monitoring we do. We all share the same desire to see future generations be able to enjoy clean water and to also be able to enjoy the natural environments that healthy water supports. The challenge in front of us is how do we get there? Improving our freshwater is going to be a long game and while we can't expect to achieve all the things we need to overnight we think it will require significant change at scale across Northland. We'll keep talking with you about the rate of that change and the timeframes needed for realising it. To find out more, search for Essential Freshwater on our website. You can also sign up for notifications so when changes to relevant content are made, you'll be aware of it. Northland REGIONAL COUNCIL Te Kaunihera à rohe o Te Taitokerau Otiria floodworks under way More than $5 million of long-awaited staged works designed to substantially reduce flood risk to Otiria and Moerewa are under way. Works are being carried out in three stages. starting with a $500,000, 150 metre lower spillway from Pokapu Road to where it meets the Waiharekeke River. Pictured recently as the Stage One construction takes shape are, from left, Observers Pamela- Anne Ngohe-Simon and Danny Baker-Renata with Rivers Project Manager Meg Tyler. In a big flood, about 80 percent of the water from the Otiria Stream spills over nearby land as does 70% from the Waiharakeke Stream. Council plans to restore the streams' natural flows by replacing the existing Pokapu Rd Bridge and building a new three-span, 60-metre-long single- lane bridge. The works will reduce the severity of a typical flood by about 75%. About $2.8M of the project cost is being met by central govt via Kanca - Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit, another $1.6M from the NRC and the balance-about $600,000 - via a local rate on about 2300 properties in the affected area. Take our residents survey We'd love to hear from you about the work we do, what's important to you and how we can do better. Head to: nrc.govt.nz/residentssurvey or scan the code to share your views with us. SCAN ME Northland REGIONAL COUNCIL Te Kaunihera à rohe o Te Taitokeraut Protecting freshwater Two years ago , the Government released its vision for improving our degraded rivers , streams , lakes and wetlands . A key part of this vision is the principle of Te Mana o te Wai which prioritises the health and well - being of waterbodies and freshwater ecosystems over the use of freshwater . It's required us to work on new rules and other actions we can take for activities that impact freshwater to meet the government's expectations We're doing a lot of background work to understand what improvements we need to our freshwater . While we have yet to consider what the new rules and actions might be , the reality is that the changes required are big , they're complex and they need to happen . We'll share more detail with you on what the changes might look like when we release a new freshwater draft plan change for public consultation around this time next year . We'll also be sharing a lot more detail about the process , the background work and the draft plan itself very shortly so rest assured , you'll have ample opportunity to tell us what you think . We have set up two separate advisory groups to help guide the process and development of the draft plan . One is a group of tangata whenua Eight $ 3000 T i te ora Scholarships awarded Eight $ 3000 Northland Regional Council scholarships designed to provide a springboard for future environmental leaders and champions have been awarded . We received 40 applications for this year's ' T i te ora Scholarships ' which recognise , encourage and support students to undertake study , research or training that relates to our environmental and regulatory functions , whilst contributing to council's vision ' Our Northland - together we thrive ' . Winners were ; Tayla Bamber , Fern Donovan , Rosa Harper , Aya Morris , Josh Otene , Maria Secker , Shavonne Toko and Taiawhio Wati . More information on the winners is available at : www.nrc.govt.nz/scholarships2022 freshwater technical experts , and the other the Primary Sector , What we do know right now is that the Goverment has said we must improve our freshwater in areas which are below a certain level ( called a " bottom line " ) and there are many places in Northland where our freshwater is not meeting that bottom line such as for E. coli , sediment , and freshwater insects . We know this through the monitoring we do . We all share the same desire to see future generations be able to enjoy clean water and to also be able to enjoy the natural environments that healthy water supports . The challenge in front of us is how do we get there ? Improving our freshwater is going to be a long game and while we can't expect to achieve all the things we need to overnight we think it will require significant change at scale across Northland . We'll keep talking with you about the rate of that change and the timeframes needed for realising it . To find out more , search for Essential Freshwater on our website . You can also sign up for notifications so when changes to relevant content are made , you'll be aware of it . Northland REGIONAL COUNCIL Te Kaunihera à rohe o Te Taitokerau Otiria floodworks under way More than $ 5 million of long - awaited staged works designed to substantially reduce flood risk to Otiria and Moerewa are under way . Works are being carried out in three stages . starting with a $ 500,000 , 150 metre lower spillway from Pokapu Road to where it meets the Waiharekeke River . Pictured recently as the Stage One construction takes shape are , from left , Observers Pamela Anne Ngohe - Simon and Danny Baker - Renata with Rivers Project Manager Meg Tyler . In a big flood , about 80 percent of the water from the Otiria Stream spills over nearby land as does 70 % from the Waiharakeke Stream . Council plans to restore the streams ' natural flows by replacing the existing Pokapu Rd Bridge and building a new three - span , 60 - metre - long single lane bridge . The works will reduce the severity of a typical flood by about 75 % . About $ 2.8M of the project cost is being met by central govt via Kanca - Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit , another $ 1.6M from the NRC and the balance - about $ 600,000 - via a local rate on about 2300 properties in the affected area . Take our residents survey We'd love to hear from you about the work we do , what's important to you and how we can do better . Head to : nrc.govt.nz/residentssurvey or scan the code to share your views with us . SCAN ME Northland REGIONAL COUNCIL Te Kaunihera à rohe o Te Taitokeraut