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Tourists to return to ‘green dirty’ lagoon

Wednesday 1 December 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Environment, National

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Tourists to return to ‘green dirty’ lagoon
Dark patches of algae spreading in Muri lagoon in 2021. FELISHA STREET/21073101

Ngatangiia MP Tamaiva Tuavera says people in his constituency are starting to stir again over the poor state of Muri’s lagoon.

Tuavera brought up the issue during question time in Parliament on Wednesday.

“We are opening up our borders to tourists to come and look at a green, dirty, lagoon,” he said.

Tuavera said government money was previously spent to get professionals to report on the state of the lagoon.

“All they did is give us a piece of paper to tell us, ‘yes our lagoon is no good’… we don't need a rocket scientist from overseas to tell us this.

“What are we going to do about this one pristine lagoon in Muri?”

In response Prime Minister, Mark Brown said the lagoon was going to take many years before it resolved itself.

He said suggestions of increasing water flow into the lagoon, like opening channels and dredging Avana harbour could have unintended consequences on the lagoon health.

Brown said the plan is to improve the sanitation and sewage flow in Muri.

“It calls for a modern collective treatment facility, which makes sure no wastewater goes directly into the ground and leaches into the lagoon.”

Brown said in the meantime Tuavera could join the trevally group, which is a group that digs up the allege in the lagoon.