17 June 2013

Lower Waitaki Zone Committee focusses on limit setting

The Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee will meet in Waimate for its monthly public meeting on Wednesday, 19 June.

Now the committee’s Zone Implementation Programme (ZIP) for water management has been finalised and endorsed by councils, the focus for the committee is on implementing its recommendations.

In particular, the committee is focussed on developing outcomes for water quantity and water quality limits as part of sub-regional planning processes for the zone.

The sub-regional chapter will supersede the default water quantity and water quality limits in Environment Canterbury’s Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP) for South Coastal Canterbury.

The LWRP will start with default limits for water use, water allocation, and nutrients, and then put the limits in a catchment context. The zone committee’s focus is on building its understanding of the impacts of limits (via scenario testing) so it can make technically and socially informed recommendations.

Following the zone committee meeting there will a public meeting for South Coastal Canterbury residents who are concerned about local water quality and water use.

The meeting will explore what local people consider is acceptable for water quality and quantity in the South Canterbury Coastal Streams area (from the Otaio River in the north to the Morven Drain in the south, with the western boundary the Waihao River catchment in the Hunters Hills).

At the zone committee meeting the committee will as also receive an update from Environment Canterbury on how it will implement the land use and water quality and biodiversity components of the Lower Waitaki ZIP in year two.

The Lower Waitaki ZIP was developed collaboratively with the community and focusses on six water management priority areas to deliver the goals and targets outlined in the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) - to enable present and future generations the greatest benefit from the region’s water resource, within in a sustainable framework.

The focus for the committee in year two is based around community engagement through the development of catchment groups, nutrient and water management in relation to on-farm best practice, and biodiversity and ecosystem health.

The Lower Waitaki - South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee operates as a joint committee of Environment Canterbury and the Waimate and Waitaki District Councils. The zone extends from the Otaio catchment in the north, to the Waitaki Dam in the south, taking in Waimate, Kurow and Duntroon.

Committee meetings are typically held on the third Wednesday of each month. They are open to the public. Attendees are given an opportunity to contribute, if they wish.

Regular monthly Zone Committee meeting information

Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee meeting

1:30pm, Wednesday, 19 June, 2013

Waimate Community Hall, Queen St, Waimate

Link to agenda: http://ecan.govt.nz/publications/Council/lw-meeting-190613.pdf

Limit setting public meeting details

4:00pm to 7:45pm (light supper provided), Wednesday, 19 June.
Waimate Community Hall, Queen St, Waimate

Visit: www.ecan.govt.nz/south-canterbury-streams or Phone 0800 324 636.

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