An EHS spokesperson explained: “Whether you run a farm or an industrial business, are a member of an angling club or a conservation group, are involved in a community group, or just want to know more about your local water environment, come along to debate the key problems affecting the waters throughout Northern Ireland and help to find and deliver solutions to protect and sustain our rivers, lakes, estuaries, seas and groundwaters.”
EHS is taking the lead in implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive and is actively seeking to engage with all stakeholders interested in the water environment. These groups will provide a forum for local issues to be identified and addressed to both Statutory Agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations.
The first meeting of each group will explain the role of a Catchment Stakeholder Group and then focus on the recently published reports “Water Matters - Have your say!” through an open forum led by an independent facilitator. These reports set out current thinking on the issues that threaten the aquatic environment within each of our (International) River Basin Districts. Following public comment, these will feed directly into the river basin management plans, which must be published in draft by December 2008.
The first Upper Foyle meeting will be held on Wednesday 17 October 2007 in the Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh at 7pm.
Notes to Editors:
For further information about venues and dates, please contact water-matters@doeni.gov.uk .
Further Stakeholder Meetings are scheduled as follows:
Erne & Melvin: Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen, 24 October
Upper Neagh Bann: Armagh City Hotel, Armagh, 7 November
Bush & Glens: Marine Hotel, Ballycastle, 14 November
Carlingford & Mourne: Canal Court Hotel, Newry 21 November
Strangford & Lecale: Strangford Hotel, Newtownards, 28 November
Subsequent meetings will be held on a six monthly basis.
“Water Matters - Have your say!” is a summary of the significant issues identified to date, in each River Basin District with proposals to tackle them. Significant issues are identified as environmental pressures that pose the greatest risk to that area. The report is currently in a consultation period, closing date 22 December 2007.
Copies of the report can be viewed at www.ehsni.gov.uk/water/wfd/significant_water_management_issues.htm
Further News Media information contact DOE Press Office tel. 028 9054 0003 or out-of-hours contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on 07699 715 440.
