Your environment - are we on the right track?

Greater Wellington’s new regional plan for the environment is being developed and we would like to hear your ideas for improving the management of the air, water, coasts, biodiversity, soils and landscape. Are we on the right track?

“Last year more than 1000 people shared their views about how we should manage our environment,” Greater Wellington Regional Council Chair Fran Wilde says.

“We’ve taken those views on board and developed some proposals to address the big issues - ,

• The use and allocation of our region’s water
• The impact of storm water and rural land use on water quality
• Managing natural hazards, and
• Managing the use of our coastal areas.

“It’s time to hear from our community again – have we captured all your issues and are our ideas for addressing them on the right track?”

This year we’re holding six community ‘drop in sessions’ throughout the region where people can give us feedback. Each drop-in session will run from 3pm–7.30pm. “Whether it is for half an hour or for two hours, every person in the region is invited to come along and have their say.

Click here for details of the workshop events.

”In last year’s workshops people said many positive things about our environment, such as the return of native birds to our urban areas, the good condition of our bush and our generally good air quality. But there was also a groundswell of concern in the community over pollution in rivers and streams, coastal erosion, air quality in some areas, and the increasing demand for water.”

Chair Wilde says anyone can attend the drop in sessions, and Greater Wellington staff will be on hand to answer questions and take feedback.

“We encourage anyone with an interest in a healthy environment – whether you are involved in food gathering, recreation, farming, fishing or adventure sports – to join in. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t been involved so far.”

Even if you can’t make the drop in sessions, you can still participate through our online survey. See haveyoursay.gw.govt.nz/your-environment (the survey runs from the end of October until mid December).

For more details www.gw.govt.nz/your-environment