24 June, 2014

MEDIA RELEASE

Kaikoura Zone Water Committee Meeting

The Kaikoura Zone Water Committee will meet for its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday 25 June to discuss local water management issues.

The meeting will begin with an update from the regional committee. It will include the findings of a recent report that says the Clarence River is seen as a nationally significant asset for kayaking.

The report, commissioned by Environment Canterbury, identifies and reports on the most valued reaches of rivers used for kayaking in Canterbury and determines the flows needed by kayakers of different abilities.

The committee will receive a report from Environment Canterbury on the Clarence/Waiau-toa Integrated Weed Management Strategy.

To date, two priority areas have been identified - the first of which stretches 50 kilometres inland from the river mouth to the Dart Stream. A one-off aerial spray of gorse and broom funded by stakeholders in the area is scheduled for November/December.

A similar spraying run is planned for the second priority area, where gorse and broom is concentrated on strips of land that extend approximately 100 metres from the river channel. Discussions on funding for this work are progressing with property owners and other stakeholders.

The meeting will conclude with three workshops. The first will consider the committee’s communications and engagement priorities. The committee will also consider its goals for engagement with the local community on the Land and Water Regional Plan.

The third workshop will follow earlier workshops s on the Kaikoura Plains Red Nutrient Allocation Zone, and the May workshop on the Matrix of Good Management (MGM) project. The intention is to provide further background to the committee, local farmers, and interested community members on the preparation of a nutrient budget using the OVERSEER programme.

The Kaikoura Zone Water Committee was launched in mid-2011 to address local water issues and deliver the goals of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS).

Zone Committee meeting information:

Kaikoura Zone Water Committee meeting
12:00pm, Wednesday 25 June
Memorial Hall Supper Room, Esplanade, Kaikoura

For an agenda see the Kaikoura Zone Committee page at www.ecan.govt.nz/canterburywater.

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