Council strategy for water availability

A new Waikato Regional Council freshwater strategy designed to tackle significant pressures on water availability and quality in the region has been signed off by councillors.

The strategy - developed after extensive consultation with iwi and regional stakeholders - takes a long-term view of the issues and suggests a range of new policy tools and instruments to better manage water.

"The strategy will now be available during the development of our 2018-28 long term plan which will see us having a continuing strong focus on water allocation and quality issues, a core part of our work," said chairman Alan Livingston.

The discussion on the long term plan relates to the entire region and is separate from the current Healthy Rivers Wai Ora Plan Change 1 proposal which is aimed at restoring and protecting the Waikato and Waipa rivers. See more