A high-calibre group of experts has been appointed to help provide crucial information on the way forward for managing water quality in the Waikato and Waipa river catchments.

The appointments to the Technical Leaders Group (TLG) are part of the Healthy Rivers: Plan for Change/Wai Ora: He Rautaki Whakapaipai project’s Technical Alliance.

“It’s fantastic that the project has been able to secure a commitment from such a well-informed and competent group of experts,” said Waikato Regional Council chief executive Vaughan Payne.

“The Technical Alliance will play a key role in helping the project’s Collaborative Stakeholder Group come up with recommendations to the council and its iwi partners on the way ahead for water in the two catchments.”

The Technical Alliance comprises the core TLG that will call upon a second wider group of around 80 experts, the Technical Support Group, as required.

Members of the TLG are:

• Dr Bryce Cooper, General Manager – Strategy, NIWA
• Dr Liz Wedderburn, Portfolio Leader Agriculture Policy and Maori Agribusiness Principal Scientist, AgResearch
• Mr Antoine Coffin, Principal, Boffa Miskell Limited
• Dr Graeme Doole, Associate Professor, University of Waikato
• Dr Mike Scarsbrook, Environment Policy Manager, DairyNZ
• Dr John Quinn, Principal Scientist Freshwater Ecology; Programme Leader Aquatic Rehabilitation, NIWA
• Dr Tony Petch, Group Manager, Resource Information, Waikato Regional Council.

The TLG will be chaired by Dr Cooper.

Under the Healthy Rivers/Wai Ora project, the Technical Alliance, an impartial advisory group of specialists with a range of areas of expertise, will provide information to the Collaborative Stakeholder Group and decision makers on a proposed plan change for the Waikato and Waipa river catchments.

The Technical Alliance will deal with environmental, social, cultural and economic information about the catchments, and the consequences of different land management scenarios.

The plan change will help to restore and protect the health of the Waikato and Waipa rivers, as required by the Vision and Strategy for the rivers, and will set targets and limits for land-based activities, as required by the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.

For more information visit www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/healthyrivers