Waikato Regional Council’s efforts to manage erosion on vulnerable west coast farm land, as well as prevent sediment getting into waterways, have been given a major boost through $630,000 worth of new central Government funding.
“ The money from the Ministry for Primary Industries 2015 Hill Country Erosion Fund over the next four years will play an important part in combating erosion and maintaining the health of our west coast waterways ,” said the council’s integrated catchment management chair Stuart Husband.
Parts of the council’s west coast zone, which stretches from south of Port Waikato to Mokau, have been identified as having the highest proportion of erosion-prone farm land in the region. Erosion affects farm production and sends sediment into waterways where it damages water quality and aquatic life.
The initial focus of work to be funded by the ministry’s money is a pilot program in the three highest risk catchments of the Awakino, Lower Mokau and Mangaotaki rivers.
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