Freshwater expert urges Budget cash injection to heal waterways

Professor Angus McIntosh: Freshwater ecosystems are the most troubled and have the highest proportion of threatened species, but they're some of the ones that we depend on and care about the most." Photo / file

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A freshwater specialist is urging the government to focus on restoration and rehabilitation in the Budget to address the climate effects on waterways.

Professor Angus McIntosh from Canterbury University says pollutants flowing through plumbing from households to industrial networks such as stormwater drains, agricultural runoff, and litter are harming lakes and streams.

He is heading research into how climate warming affects our freshwater ecosystems.

"All around the world, freshwater ecosystems are the most troubled and have the highest proportion of threatened species, but they're some of the ones that we depend on and care about the most," he says.

Ahead of the government's Budget announcement today, Professor Mclntosh says the ongoing effects of climate change in this area need to be a priority.

He says that the government has focused its efforts on putting regulations and environmental limits in place because natural resources are being exploited.

"I'd really like to see a big emphasis on restoration and rehabilitation. That's the next step."

He says this would include more canopy for shade cover on streams to stop them from warming, removing contaminants, and a range of other measures.

"Lots of streams are affected by fine sediments. We can plant as much as we like, we can deal with our leaky plumbing, but we have to get rid of the contaminants," he says,

"We have limits, but the challenge is living within them and being able to repair the damage that's been done."