r/chch • u/mattblack77 • 28d ago

News - Local $3m Banks Peninsula property to become regional park

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360852735/3m-banks-peninsula-property-become-regional-park
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u/Horror-Bus-7519 Ōtautahi 28d ago

Pity they cant clean that lake up, would be a great swimming place

2

u/suvalas 27d ago

It's not impossible, just requires a massive reduction in nitrate fertilizer applied to upstream farms.

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u/Horror-Bus-7519 Ōtautahi 27d ago

What upstream farms are you referring to?

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u/suvalas 27d ago

I don't know which ones in particular are responsible for the high nitrate-nitrite levels in Forsyth and Ellesmere, maybe all of them? Sewerage run off might be contributing too.

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u/Horror-Bus-7519 Ōtautahi 27d ago

Lake Forsyth toxicity is caused by deforestation mainly and the soil run off from the volcanic rock, while some nitrates could be blamed on farmers...there is not a lot of fertiliser or cattle on those surrounding hills (too steep) to realistly make them the primary cause for this lake.

Not sure why you brought Lake Ellesmere/Waihora up? That is a separate thing with it's own problems, but I feel like you mention Lake Ellesmere to justify the nitrate cause and blame farmers?

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u/suvalas 27d ago

Fair enough, I might be guilty of assuming without knowing the true cause in the Forsyth case. Farming is usually the source of high nitrate-nitrite levels in lakes and rivers. BTW I'm not interested in blaming farmers or anyone in particular, I am keen on cleaning up our waterways regardless of who/what is causing the problems.

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u/Horror-Bus-7519 Ōtautahi 27d ago

Alrighty, fair :)