Environment Southland
Utilities and services
Councils are responsible for a wide range of utilities and services that we all rely on, from rubbish and recycling to street cleaning. Councils are currently also responsible for managing waste water, storm water and drinking water infrastructure – the ‘Three Waters’. But that may be about to change, with central government seeking to shift the delivery of Three Waters services to four new larger entities, which could borrow enough to upgrade the country’s water infrastructure.
Utilities and services
Councils are responsible for a wide range of utilities and services that we all rely on, from rubbish and recycling to street cleaning. Councils are currently also responsible for managing waste water, storm water and drinking water infrastructure – the ‘Three Waters’. But that may be about to change, with central government seeking to shift the delivery of Three Waters services to four new larger entities, which could borrow enough to upgrade the country’s water infrastructure.
Ensure the Regional Policy Statement requires the efficient use of water and discourages the discharge of effluent to rivers and the coast.
Maintain easily accessible data on river flows and flood alerts. Environment Southland already does this well.
Ensure stormwater discharges to rivers and the coast are as contaminant free as possible and not contaminated with sewage.
Actively monitor local council's activities managing all conditions on the consent that they hold for discharges of sewerage and wastewater.
Maintain the Harbor Master position and continue to fund Emergency Management Southland to monitor and report on rainfall events.
Increase the number of automated river level reporting sites across Southland.
Encourage and subsidise home rainwater collection.
Encourage and subsidise local humanure management systems.
Take a forward-thinking approach to changes to national and global weather patterns.
Encourage improving the quality of our drinking water, reducing nitrate levels.
Ensure council is doing all it can to prevent pollutants entering stormwater.
Review and eliminate sources of untreated sewerage still entering our waterways.
Ensure policies safeguard residents access to clean potable water for household and industrial use.
Ensure coastal and marine permits, consents and charges are appropriate, monitored and future focussed.
Expand the harbour master's full-time equivalent and endorse funding contributions for emergency management.
Collaborate with mana whenua to understand their perspective of wastewater treatment and dispersal.
Ensure the Regional Policy Statement requires the efficient use of water and discourages the discharge of effluent to rivers and the coast.
Maintain easily accessible data on river flows and flood alerts. Environment Southland already does this well.
Ensure stormwater discharges to rivers and the coast are as contaminant free as possible and not contaminated with sewage.
Actively monitor local council's activities managing all conditions on the consent that they hold for discharges of sewerage and wastewater.
Maintain the Harbor Master position and continue to fund Emergency Management Southland to monitor and report on rainfall events.
Increase the number of automated river level reporting sites across Southland.
Encourage and subsidise home rainwater collection.
Encourage and subsidise local humanure management systems.
Take a forward-thinking approach to changes to national and global weather patterns.
Encourage improving the quality of our drinking water, reducing nitrate levels.
Ensure council is doing all it can to prevent pollutants entering stormwater.
Review and eliminate sources of untreated sewerage still entering our waterways.
Ensure policies safeguard residents access to clean potable water for household and industrial use.
Ensure coastal and marine permits, consents and charges are appropriate, monitored and future focussed.
Expand the harbour master's full-time equivalent and endorse funding contributions for emergency management.
Collaborate with mana whenua to understand their perspective of wastewater treatment and dispersal.
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