BlueGreen event happening locally
An important environmental conference is coming to Horowhenua next month.
I’m helping to organise the “Bluegreens” forum to be held at Tatum Park near Levin on the weekend of March 9 and 10. The Bluegreens are a policy advisory group of the National Party, made up of people with a passion for environmental issues.
Throughout Kapiti and Horowhenua we have plenty of good examples to show attendees how local communities and the Government are working together on major projects.
$5.2 million in Government funding is going towards the cleanup of Manawatu River, and I'm hopeful a similar accord for Lake Horowhenua can be replicated to keep up the positive momentum.
The Manawatu River estuary is an internationally recognised bird sanctuary, and local volunteers from the Save Our River Trust have done outstanding work cleaning up the Foxton river loop and creating walking tracks.
In Shannon we have a Government contribution of $2.1 million going towards an upgrade of the town’s water supply, with construction due to begin soon. The respective Friends of the Waikanae and Otaki Rivers have also done great improvement work.
The common thread for many of these projects is water, and this will be an important topic at the conference. Managing our freshwater supply and harnessing its potential for irrigation is also a key priority for me as Minister for Primary Industries, and the whole Government.
Other issues for discussion include reforming the Resource Management to improve the process for homeowners, businesses, local authorities and communities.
Minister of Conservation Nick Smith will be talking about the challenge of creating a pest-free New Zealand. A guided field trip to Kapiti Island will give visitors a chance to see this island and what our region has to offer.