Plan to reduce nutrient output

Mac Pacey, a Rerewhakaaitu dairy farmer, is committed to the lake's water quality. Photo / Ben Fraser

Farmers in the Lake Rerewhakaaitu region have put forward their catchment plan after years of collaboration with the regional council.

Project Rerewhakaaitu is a farmer-led environmental initiative, which was recognised by the Ministry of Environment for community leadership earlier this year.

The plan sees an initiative for each farm to reduce its nutrient output.

Committee member Mac Pacey, who owns a 116ha diary farm in the catchment, said some farmers had started putting on less phosphate, and were using less or being more strategic with their nitrogen application.

Others had put stock on feed pads, which gathered effluent to be distributed in the right conditions.

The commitment to the lake's water quality was on-going and involved further work with the regional council, he said. "I certainly think you are better to work with a regional council.

"One of our advantages here is most of us use the lake - we are keen water skiers, so we all have always said we want to stay here and farm but don't want to look out on a pond of rubbish."

He said the committee had done much research in order to farm effectively and be environmentally focussed.

"I hope further in the future we can stay being profitable farmers and stay having clean waterways as well."

Bay of Plenty Regional Council environmental delivery manager Warwick Murray said Lake Rerewhakaaitu farmers should be congratulated.

"I think they ought to be congratulated for their willingness to collectively get together and address the issues around deteriorating lake water quality. It has to be a collective response and they have really risen to the challenge."

He said the farmers would continue to monitor their nutrient discharge and the regional council would also continue to monitor lake water quality.

Project Rerewhakaaitu - Farmer Catchment Plan

An action plan for farmers in the Lake Rerewhakaaitu catchment to reduce nutrient output

The plan comes after four years of collaboration between farmers and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council

The plan includes limited and strategic nitrogen application, and limited phosphate application

Other measures include putting cattle into barns, herd homes or on feed pads to catch effluent and limit run-off