Rotorua Land Innovation Challenge launched with $20,000 prize
A national competition with a $20,000 prize is being launched to identify additional land uses for the Lake Rotorua catchment as part of efforts to clean up the lake water quality.
The Rotorua Land Innovation Challenge aims to generate ideas for landowners in the catchment who are required to reduce nutrient loss which is impacting on lake water quality.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council general manager Natural Resource Operations, Warwick Murray, said it was hoped the challenge would generate innovative and viable land-use options for the Lake Rotorua catchment.
New Zealanders are well-known for their innovative thinking, so we are going out to all New Zealanders, asking them to be involved in helping shape the future of rural Rotorua, Mr Murray said.
Rural landowners have a big task ahead to achieve the nutrient reductions needed for the sustainable health of Lake Rotorua. Some landowners will be able to reach their individual nutrient limits with on-farm management changes. Others may want to look at additional land-use options, he said.
This is about providing options for landowners. The regional council will not be implementing any of the proposed ideas or giving business advice to farmers, but we want to make sure that land owners have a range of additional options to consider.
The changes needed on rural land were significant and would not be easy, Mr Murray said.
Many farmers have already made significant changes to their farming practices to reduce their nutrient losses and we are working very constructively with landowners and other stakeholders to develop the rules and an incentive programme needed to make the further reductions.
The challenge was part of the integrated rules and incentives programme, he said.
The incentives fund has been set the task of achieving 100 tonnes of nitrogen reductions. To achieve this we need to have a range of alternative ideas for farmers to consider for their individual properties.
Entries for the Rotorua Land Innovation Challenge are now open and must show how the proposed land use solution provides for long-term, measurable nitrogen reductions as well as providing financial data detailing its economic viability.
While the challenge is expected to appeal largely to researchers, scientists and the farming and land management sectors, it is open to anyone to enter and the overall winner will receive $20,000.
All viable solutions submitted will be shared with landowners and the community to review and potentially implement.
Entries close 31 March 2014.
For entry details and more information on the Rotorua Land Innovation Challenge go to www.rotorualakes.co.nz