To date more 10,000 fires had been replaced, earlier than the government's 2020 deadline for that number to be addressed, he said.
Land protection was also discussed, with a focus on helping farmers reduce soil erosion, nutrients and pesticides which could impact waterways.
Team leader catchment management Brendan Powell said the regional council and the catchment board before it had worked with landowners for 70 years and much progress had been made.
"During that time about 2.3 million poplar and willow poles have been planted, protecting about 46,000 hectares of erodible land."
Water planning for future management was also ongoing, said principal scientist hydrology Jeff Smith.
He spoke about how constant monitoring was undertaken through 35 wells to monitor groundwater levels and quality in light of the hundreds of wells on the Heretaunga plains used to extract water, as well as other activities.
A new development that gave more precise information was the use of computer modelling of the groundwater to identify the combined effect of water takes.
"This modelling in particular allows us to identify the combined effect of groundwater takes and activities on the plains.
"In the past it's been assessing each individual case on its own merits but the combined effect has never been understood without the model - it also allows us to make predictions through computer simulation to anticipate what the effects of management decisions might be so we can have more confidence in those decisions."
Regional council chairman Rex Graham said this progress was a "small start" to what the current council wanted to achieve in terms of environmental improvements.
"We are now a year into the new council which is operating really well.
"We said a year ago we would focus on the core competencies and we are doing that."
He said staff were feeling the new energy around council, which with the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme behind it would make the environment a priority.
Good progress was being made on hotspots identified in the annual plan, funding for which prompted a rates rise this year, he added.
These were Lake Tutira, Ahuriri Estuary, Whakaki Lake and Wairoa River, Whatuma and the Tukituki catchment, Karamu Stream and the marine environment.
Mr Graham said action plans had been developed for all areas except Lake Whatuma.
"We intend to lift our game considerably and are looking at how we are going to raise the capital for that, but in the meantime everyone is doing a really good job."