MEDIA ADVISORY
23 August 2013
Orari-Opihi-Pareora Zone Committee Meeting
The Orari-Opihi-Pareora (OOP) Zone Committee will meet in Timaru on Monday (26 August) for its monthly meeting to address water management issues in the zone.
The public meeting will start with an opportunity for members of the public to contribute, should they wish, before it
goes on to discuss the process for refreshing structure and membership of the ten Canterbury Water zone committees.
There will be an opportunity for new members to join zone committees in many of the zones later this year. Interested
community members can come along to a meeting to find out more prior to expressions of interest being called for.
A key focus for the zone committee is currently on implementing its Zone Implementation Programme (ZIP) for water
management. At Monday’s meeting the committee will be updated on infrastructure development for bringing additional
water in to the zone – a key priority outcome in the committee’s ZIP.
Bringing additional water into the zone will allow for enhanced environmental outcomes, and to replace existing surface
and groundwater takes. It will also provide for an increase in irrigated land area.
At the meeting the committee will also receive an update on catchment activities to implement the on-the-ground actions
in the ZIP. The committee is currently focussed progressing community engagement and on-farm water and nutrient
management in priority areas by developing work plans for each catchment group.
The committee will finish the meeting by receiving a report on phosphorus management in the zone, and what can be done
to address water quality concerns.
Prior to the public meeting, the committee will hold a closed workshop to develop its work programme for the coming
years. The committee will discuss the progress being made to implement the priority areas outlined in its ZIP, and then
look at the process to be followed to develop the sub-regional plan for the zone in coming years.
The OOP Zone Committee operates as a joint committee of Environment Canterbury and the Timaru and Mackenzie District
Councils. The zone extends south from the Rangitata River through to the Pareora catchment. It includes all of the
Timaru district and parts of the Mackenzie and Waimate districts.
Meeting Details
Orari-Opihi-Pareora Zone Committee meeting
1:00pm, Monday, 26 August, 2013
Meeting Room 1, Timaru District Council, 2 King George Place, Timaru
For an agenda visit: http://ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/canterburywater/committees/orari-opihi-paeora/Pages/Default.aspx .
ENDS