Community Awareness

A 1998 survey (2) identified that 31% of the Matamata-Piako District population surveyed had acted to protect the environment in rural areas, which is higher than the regional average of only 26%. Of a sample of 88 people, 58% said that the protection of native bush or wetlands had got better.

Response

Through provisions in the District Plan, Council is attempting to manage the natural environment in a very proactive manner. The District Plan emphasises that the scale, location and design of buildings, structures and activities in significant landscape character units of the District should preserve the key elements which contribute to its natural character

The Council has also proposed to enhance the general landscape of the District by implementing a tree-planting programme. This planting programme is intended to encourage landowners to plant trees, which reflect the character of the district.

Identified in the District Plan and as part of Council's Environmental Education strategy, Council is looking at promoting landcare and environmental farm plans which is intended to enhance our natural environment whilst mitigating the effects of development.

The Waikato Region is supported mainly through its farming and forestry industries and Environment Waikato has concentrated efforts to protect soil health and erosion to ensure that these industries continue to be viable activities. Soil conservation schemes paid for by the government are run on a largescale and an increasing number of land care groups throughout the region are involved in tree planting schemes on hills, stream banks, gullies and fencing along the margins of waterways to protect and enhance the natural environment.

1 Environment Waikato, State of the Environment Report, 1999.
2 Environment Waikato Perception Survey

What you can do to help

• Become involved in Council initiatives such as tree planting and associated conservation programmes
• Become involved in landcare groups