Mr. Eddie Burgess:

On why water quality is continuing to decline, it is important to distinguish which aspect of water quality we are discussing.

There are many different aspects to water quality and in different locations different aspects are relevant. The Deputy asked me to comment on how far we can go with the intensification in the dairy herd. In two of our catchments, we have had significant expansion in dairy since over the 12 years we have been monitoring and there has been no significant change in the water quality in those catchments. That is the result of good nutrient management and practice. Water quality is not necessarily related to intensity. The phosphorous issue is tied in with overland flow and wetter land sites. The water quality maps show it tends to be more widespread across the country and not necessarily focused on the areas where dairy expansion has taken place. It is very important, as has been said here time and again, that the actions to improve water quality are targeted on the soil type, which is smaller than catchment level, to be applicable for that.

It is important also to emphasise that it is not all bad news. There have been improvements in water quality. As reported by Dr. McGoff in regard to the priority areas for action in the latest indicators report from the EPA, water qualify has moved in the right direction. If we want to bring communities and different sectors of society with us, we have to emphasise the positives as well as the problems.