Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee considers the role of wetlands in reducing nutrient losses

The Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee will meet at 1pm on Tuesday, 7 July, at the Selwyn District Council offices.

The meeting will focus on the potential for constructed wetlands to reduce Nitrogen and Phosphorus loads. Extensive drainage in the lower reaches of the Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) catchment to facilitate agricultural land use has resulted in substantial loss of natural wetlands from the landscape. Modelling by NIWA has considered the wetland requirements if annual nitrogen loads were reduced by 20 or 40%.

The committee will then continue discussions on the role and auditing of farm environment plans, and this will include a briefing from Beef and Lamb. Environment Canterbury approved Beef and Lamb’s farm environment plan template earlier this year. Under the proposed Land and Water Regional Plan a farm environment plan needs to be produced where an application for consent to farm is required.

Tuesday’s meeting will also include a summary from the Regional Committee, which considers issues of region-wide significance, and members of the public will be given a chance to contribute, should they wish.

The meeting will finish with an update on Variation 1 which introduces new policies, rules, and limits to manage water quality and water quantity in the Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere catchment, with particular emphasis on the long-term health of Te Waihora.

Environment Canterbury announced in late April that it accepted the recommendations of the independent Hearing Commissioners on proposed Variation 1. These were publicly notified on 9 May 2015 and the appeal period closed on 29 May 2015. Three appeals have been lodged.

The Selwyn Waihora Zone Committee is a joint committee of the Christchurch City and Selwyn District councils, and Environment Canterbury. Meetings are typically held monthly on a Tuesday and are open to the public.

ENDS

© Scoop Media