Longer-term targets

It is early days in terms of achieving the longer-term results we are aiming for, as signalled in our 2003 ten-year plan. We will be providing more details of progress through a number of future reports.

Below we note where making progress looks particularly challenging.For the remainder, the general trend is “on track”.In some cases – for example relating to the quality of the water supply – the target has already been achieved and the challenge will be to maintain that level.

Details of the targets and progress are given in the full Annual Report.

Those areas in which we appear to face particular challenges include:

Air

Target: No recorded instances when air pollution reached alert status

Actual: Twenty three ‘alert’ status events reported

Reason: Domestic fires/vehicle emissions during winter periods of extremely calm weather.

Water

Target: Coastal water quality does not fall below the standard for which it is being managed

Actual: Some 79% of sites failed to meet the required standards on one or more occasions during the year

Reason: Heavier than could be expected rainfall in the preceding 48 hours in most of the instances of failure.

Transport

Target: Average travel times to key facilities do not increase

Actual: Average travel time on a sample of routes increased by 22%

Reason: Increase in regional road works, extreme weather events, difficulties in achieving necessary investment in the transport system.

Safety and hazards

Target: No major damage or loss of life as a result of a flood event

Actual: Two extreme weather events led to significant damage in the Wellington region – Oct 2003 and February 2004. No loss of life occurred

Reason: Extreme weather events.