Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton had asked the council to outline rules in place and work under way to protect Otago’s "remarkable deep-water lake assets".
In his response, council interim chief executive Pim Borren told Mr Upton the council was "looking for assistance from central government to help us facilitate exactly the type of work you are asking about".
However, no request has formally been made and Dr Borren has now clarified that statement.
He said he was referring to a conversation he had with a manager at the MFE, not a formal request.
His comments were "based solely on my own expectations", he told the Otago Daily Times.
The regional council’s proposed strategic lakes management plan is in early planning stages and, once complete, is expected to inform the council’s 2024-34 long-term plan process.
Referring to a report by former National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research biodiversity and biosecurity chief scientist Don Robertson, Mr Upton told Dr Borren last month he was concerned about the declining health of the three alpine lakes.
Dr Robertson’s report, from February 2021, notes evidence of chlorophyll-a doubling in all three lakes in the five years from 2016 to 2021.
Microscopic planktonic algae adrift in the lakes is increasing and it is likely due to human activity, the report says.
It draws attention to a lack of monitoring on the lakes’ changing conditions, a lack of research addressing the causes of the problems, or identifying how to deal with the problem.
The council’s response to Mr Upton details a range of steps the council has taken and those it will take to protect the region’s approximately 7000 lakes.
Dr Borren said the council had reviewed Dr Robertson’s report and agreed there was enough evidence to start a "multi-agency, co-ordinated active management approach" for the mountain lakes.
Fine-scale monitoring and modelling should begin soon as to develop management options for the lakes.
The council broadly supported the proposal in Dr Robertson’s report to establish a multi-agency panel of experts to develop and oversee a work programme over several years, with a budget around $15 million.
However, the level of rates increases required would be problematic politically, Dr Borren said.
He later told the ODT he had a conversation with one of the MFE’s high level managers about the possibility of future assistance with funding towards the council’s new lakes strategy project.
"Ultimately we will require co-investment to ensure those lakes remain in a largely pristine state.
"It is too early to assess what that investment might look like in terms of dollars, but we are assuming a long-term programme at this point."
Council chairwoman Gretchen Robertson said the council’s Lakes Strategy Working Group shared Mr Upton’s concern for the "future of these majestic water bodies".
"It’s in everybody’s interests to protect, preserve and enhance these Southern lakes. We all recognise their critical importance."
A spokeswoman for the MFE said it was aware of Mr Upton’s concerns for Otago’s deep water alpine lakes.
"We have not received any requests for assistance from the ORC in relation to the [matter].
"However, we have been in contact with the council and will continue discussions in relation to the council’s response."
