20 April 2026

LRCA Lobbies BoPRC for Funds to Protect Rotoiti

LRCA has lodged formal submissions to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Draft Annual Plan 2026/27 (DAP). 

Retention of the Ohau Channel Diversion Wall

The key submission calls for the establishment of a specific, adequately funded budget line for the long-term retention and remediation of the Ōhau Channel Diversion Wall. 

Council Scientific and Community Evidence Supporting the Wall’s Ongoing Necessity

BoPRC has cited University of Waikato (UoW) modelling to suggest that, with Lake Rotorua near its TLI target

of 4.2, removal of the wall would cause only a minor decline in Rotoiti's water quality. We respectfully

challenge the sufficiency of this conclusion in light of the same reports' own findings, which state inter alia:

• 'Even with the most ambitious reduction in maximum TLI in Lake Rotorua (i.e. 3.8), additional water

quality management in Lake Rotoiti would be required to achieve the target TLI of 3.5.'

• 'Removal of the wall alongside a maximum annual TLI in Lake Rotorua of 4.2, without additional

measures, will be insufficient to have Lake Rotoiti meet its TLI target of 3.5.'

• 'The TLI in Lake Rotoiti is still above its target. There is also no clear evidence that water quality in the

lake is still improving... This suggests that the continued placement of the wall is still warranted.'

— University of Waikato (UoW) ERI REPORT NUMBER 169

Additionally, most recent TLI data shows Lake Rotorua trending upward. Climate variability, sediment

nutrient cycling, and groundwater lag effects mean that long-term improvement to Rotorua's water quality

remains highly uncertain. In this context, the community holds a well-founded conviction that it will likely be

several decades or more — if ever — before conditions justify removal of the wall.

Our Specific Requests

We respectfully request that Bay of Plenty Regional Council:

a. Establish a specific, adequately funded budget line for the long-term retention and remediation of

the Ōhau Channel Wall within the Annual Plan 2026/27 and the broader Long Term Plan cycle.

b. Ensure that any new investment structure (including the preferred Hybrid Model) explicitly identifies

the Ōhau Channel Wall remediation as a qualifying environmental infrastructure investment eligible

for Purpose 1 or Purpose 2 funding.

c. Commit to a defined remediation timeline — not merely a further assessment timeline — so that the

community can have confidence that active physical remediation will commence without further

unnecessary delay following completion of the DAPP process.

d. Continue to engage transparently with the Rotoiti Liaison Panel, LRCA, LWQS, and the wider

community throughout the DAPP process, including sharing the results of the most recent structural

inspections as soon as they are available.

e. Acknowledge publicly that, on available scientific evidence, the Ōhau Channel Wall will need to be

retained and maintained for the foreseeable future — likely decades — and that planning and

budgeting should reflect this long-term horizon.

You can read the full submission HERE.

Ensuring that Rotoiti receives its share of Regional Investments in Indigenous Biodiversity.

We have also provided general support with caveats for Council’s proposed options for optimising and investing in regional benefit and indigenous biodiversity. 

Our submissions can be viewed HERE.