The Government will consider directly funding regional irrigation schemes, but only after all other commercial solutions have been exhausted, Minister of Agriculture David Carter said in Cromwell yesterday.
Wanaka resident Ralph Markby is so annoyed by unattractive, drain-dwelling algae he has complained to the council.
Forums on the "far-reaching" changes proposed in the way the Otago Regional Council deals with water quality are struggling to attract their target audience - farmers.
Complaints of mouldy tasting water will be washed away if an ultrasonic transmitter installed to combat algal bloom in one of Dunedin's water reservoirs does its job.
An algal bloom in a reservoir that feeds into Dunedin's water supply has resulted in "foul, mouldy-tasting water", and technology to get rid of it could cost up to $25,000.
Coastal erosion needed to become a national issue, Cr Jim Hopkins told the Waitaki District Council on Wednesday, calling for pressure on the Government to fund dealing with it.
"Best bang for the buck" to improve environmental performance was one of the parameters behind changes proposed for the Otematata sewage treatment scheme by the Waitaki District Council.
St Kilda resident Vicki Warrington is "not holding her breath" that plans to flush water pipes in her area will solve her dirty water problems in the long term.
• The efforts of the water-diviner, whose services were recommended to the Hospital Board by Mr Walter Blackie, in regard to finding a source of water supply adjacent to the Sanatorium for Consumptives at Palmerston, have been attended with decided success.
A preliminary report on the rating classification review promised for the Taieri should be presented during the April committee meeting round, Otago Regional Council chief executive Graeme Martin said.
"State of the art" hand-held water quality monitoring devices have been ordered by the Otago Regional Council and will be trialled in the field in coming months.
