More than 100 people attended the Shore Futures information day recently held in Kawhia.

“We were really pleased with the response we got,” said Environment Waikato councillor Andra Neeley.

“The turnout was excellent, there was a lot of support for what we’re trying to achieve and people shared lots of interesting ideas with the project team.

“There were four issues people seemed to be most interested in – vehicles on beaches, residential development, sewage disposal and water quality.”

Shore Futures is an integrated (land and habour) catchment planning project for the Kawhia, Aotea and surrounding areas.

Being led by Environment Waikato, Waitomo, Otorohanga and Waikato district councils and the Department of Conservation, this joint planning project will enable local authorities to have a coordinated approach to managing how the land and harbours are used, and plan for change and growth in the Kawhia and Aotea catchments.

Because this project will result in changes to council rules, it affects everyone who lives, owns property, works or holidays in Kawhia, Aotea and the surrounding areas. So it is important that everybody gets involved.

Aotea resident Pat MacDonald said the day was a good introduction to the Shore Futures project.

“There was some very good information available and we definitely plan to attend the workshop being run in Te Uku.”

A second information day is being held on Saturday, 3 March at Te Waitere Boating Club. People can attend a presentation at 11am or 2.30pm, or drop in any time between 10am-4pm to view information displays and chat to staff.

The information day will be followed by a series of workshops. The workshops will give people a chance to say what they value about the two catchments and want to protect, and how the issues facing the Kawhia and Aotea catchments should be managed.

Workshops will be held from 6pm-9pm on:

• 7 March, Hauturu Hall
• 9 March, Te Uku Hall
• 21 March, Kawhia Community Hall
• 23 March, Kinohaku Hall
• 28 March, Oparau Hall
• 30 March, Te Kauri Lodge.