Media Release
20 December 2013

Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee appoints new community members

Four new community members have been appointed to the Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee as part of a process to refresh its community membership. 

The new members are Stewart Miller (dryland farm owner), Allen Lim (runs a market garden business), Bill Lambie (retired police officer), and Ron Pellow (Executive Director of South Island Dairy DevelopmentCentre).

Each of Canterbury’s ten zone committees has four to seven community members, an Environment Canterbury Commissioner, Councillors from the relevant district Council – in this case Selwyn District and Christchurch City Councils, and Rūnanga representatives.

Christina Robb, Programme Manager Canterbury Water Management Strategy, said the selection process focussed on finding people who can see others’ points of views and who can work collaboratively to find solutions for water issues.

“The Canterbury Water Management Strategy is an innovative approach to managing fresh water. It’s about finding the best ways to restore our environment and provide for viable farming and communities throughout the region.

“It will help to ensure safe drinking water supplies, sustainable farming practices and clean rivers and streams, as well as enhancing recreational opportunities and protecting environment and cultural values.

“We are pleased with the quality of the applicants and we’re sure we have found good balance of community representatives who are passionate about making a positive difference in local water management,” she said.

The zone committee refreshment process requires two community members from six of the ten zone committees to put their names forward to be refreshed each year. The remaining four zone committees have already had recent community membership changes.

This means community membership terms are staggered to ensure there is an opportunity for new perspectives on the water management committees. Existing members were able to put their names forward for re-selection.

Over the past year the Selwyn – Waihora Zone Committee has been particularly focussed on developing an Addendum to its Zone Implementation Programme (ZIP) for water management.

The Addendum, which was accepted by Environment Canterbury in September, contains a solutions package for Te Waihora / Lake Ellesmere that represents a broad vision on how the mauri of the lake can be restored.

The ZIP Addendum now forms the basis for the Selwyn Waihora Sub-regional section of the proposed Land & Water Regional Plan, which is expected to be notified for consultation early next year.

The other community members on the Selwyn - Waihora Zone Committee are John Sunckell, David Painter, and Maree Goldring.

Biographies for zone committee members can be found on the Selwyn-Waihora page atwww.ecan.govt.nz/canterburywater .

ENDS

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