Speech To New Zealand Water And Wastes Association Conference And Workshop

Mr President, overseas guests, Greg Cashin, Rob Pearson, Lu Yea-Wen and delegates

As an Aucklander with a history in local government, I'm aware of how crucial this topic is to our city.

While it falls outside my portfolio of Arts, Culture & Heritage, it floods into my area of responsibility as Minister assisting the Prime Minister on Auckland issues.

Helen Clark has asked me to say that she, as an Auckland resident, is very conscious of the importance of what you are discussing at this conference.

Historically, our major rivers improved in quality between the 70's and 90's. Then things got worse. The Waikato State of the Environment Report is a good case in point.

Managing urban stormwater and rural runoff is a big ask. One of the key ways of solving our problems is to develop partnerships between the many agencies responsible for stormwater management.

It is Auckland's top urban pollution issue, according to the Auckland Regional Council's website. But this has never been considered an issue until relatively recently.

The city's beaches are plagued by sewage spills pouring raw human waste onto their shores.

Stormwater contaminates streams, estuaries and the sea with toxic chemicals, pathogens, and litter.

In urban areas we have buried most of our lowland streams and called them drains. Because of that, whole ecologies have been wiped out.

The problems are generated by many organisations – these same people must be part of the solution.

The question is: How do we collar them?

I believe education is the answer. We need to let them know how stormwater impacts on their lives, and how they can make a difference.

As a rainy, island nation plonked in the middle of a large ocean, it's easy to see why Kiwis identify so strongly with water.

So, how do we achieve change? I believe that we need to:
? Inform the public about the extent of stormwater problems
? Identify and publicise ways in which they can reduce contamination
? Come up with new technical solutions
? Develop partnerships between the key players responsible for managing the problem

It's all about empowering communities to improve their local environment by addressing and monitoring problems. This will enable them to work alongside service providers, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to find solutions.

There are many useful initiatives currently being developed.

Councils are moving towards making their bathing water quality information more widely available to the public. The Ministry for the Environment now has this information on its website (http://www.marine.mfe.govt.nz/beach-water/-.)

There are a number of positive educational steps being undertaken all around the country.

The ARC has an education strategy that complements the regional stormwater strategy. You may have seen the toxic avengers in 'operation stormwater' taking people in shopping malls and schools down the drain to show how stormwater becomes polluted, and more importantly – what they – the people – can do about it.

Those of you living in the Auckland region may also have seen the "poison the sea, poison me" ad campaign. Fantastic street art combined with great TV ads carrying the simple message – only drain rain.

Schools and industries are also being targeted in the move to crack down on the problem.

The Canterbury Regional Council has a high school resource kit that encourages students to think about stormwater and its effects.

City councils have been asked to implement the Auckland regional stormwater strategy. Waitakere has already done it and their work with Ecowater should drive down costs and enhance the environment.

The council has come up with a blend of traditional and alternative solutions to protect the environment from further degradation, minimise adverse effects to public health, and manage development in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Manukau City is midstream with its plans and I hope it will use the multi-solution approach.

North Shore City is exploring a number of options to determine the best way to come up with an integrated approach.

Wai Care is a pilot scheme involving a community water-quality monitoring, education and action plan.

A truly regional initiative, it will be fully launched in July.

In the capital, the regional council and Porirua City Council are undertaking a major community-driven project for Pauatahanui Inlet and it's surrounding catchments.

In Christchurch the city council has produced a 10-minute video that encourages people to care for their local streams, creeks and drainage channels.

But we also need to take some lessons from our Australian counterparts ie: Waterwatch in Victoria, and the work carried out in the upper Parramatta River Catchment in Sydney.

However the cooperation between the councils here on the stormwater issue is impressive and I support your efforts to deal with a very difficult issue.

The national agenda for sustainable water management (NASWM) identifies some of this communication as government's role.

I'd like to give you some examples of how partnerships and multi-solution approaches have been used in New Zealand.

The North Shore City Council faces an ongoing problem with their beaches not meeting the recreational water quality guidelines. They have developed a comprehensive communications strategy involving media advertising, community meetings, signs and action groups.

The National Soil Conservation Council has gained public support for Project CARE due to an open policy in reporting water quality and involving the public in the decision making process.

This kind of communication results in public support to fund the infrastructure changes necessary to improve water quality.

You might ask what the Government's role is.

The Labour manifesto says we will support and strengthen urban sustainability and develop urban environmental indicators.

We would like to know how you feel the Government can most effectively facilitate the management of stormwater.

Of course there are issues such as the ability of local authorities to access funds, the policy framework for efficiently managing water, wastewater and stormwater and the role of Infrastructure Auckland,

The Government is giving urgency to the Review of Local Government Funding, and will work closely with Local Government NZ in water, wastewater and stormwater policy review.

Infrastructure Auckland has a major role in providing public funding for stormwater management infrastructure, although significant projects have yet to be funded.

The Government encourages the development of solutions by local communities and looks forward to working with all stakeholders in seeking rapid solutions.

The Ministry for the Environment recently released a draft National Agenda for Sustainable Water Management that identifies the priorities for water management in New Zealand.

One of the priorities includes the Ministry coordinating an agreed programme of meetings, seminars, conferences and workshops.

So, to sum up:

It's clear we face some formidable problems in the areas you are discussing at this conference.

At the same time some real progress has been made.

If we can emphasise the value of partnership – partnership with individuals, iwis, communities, councils and regional and national organisations – then I believe we are going to get on top of these problems.

Mr President, it gives me very great pleasure to open your Conference and Workshop and I wish you every success in your work.