Ashburton Zone Water Management Committee focuses on proposed land-use rules
The Ashburton Water Management Zone Committee will meet for the first time this year on Tuesday 26 January to discuss
how new land-use rules will affect local land-users.
The committee will receive a report from Environment Canterbury on the Nutrient Management and Waitaki Plan Change to
the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP).
The proposed Plan Change includes new region-wide nutrient management rules relating to land used for farming, and the
zone committee will consider how it affects land-users in the Ashburton zone.
It requires land-users to implement Good Management Practices, and farming activities requiring resource consent will
need Farm Environment Plans. The Plan Change also addresses phosphorus management and is expected to be notified for
public consultation in February.
At the meeting the committee will also review and prioritise its five-year outcomes to improve water quality. The
priorities, developed with the community, include; improving and protecting the natural character and mauri of
Hakatere/Ashburton River, improving health and biodiversity of the river, and protecting and improving the water
quality.
The committee has determined practical ways to achieve these goals in the next five years and developed milestones to
meet each year.
Tuesday’s meeting will also be the first for new committee member William Thomas who was appointed to the zone committee
at the end of last year as part of a refreshment process to ensure new perspectives are reflected. The committee will
consider appointing a chair, deputy chair and regional committee representative for 2016.
The committee will finish the meeting by discussing the latest water monitoring results for the Ashburton River and
discuss the effects of the dry period on the local water resource, and what this means for farmers.
For the meeting agenda and further details http://ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/canterburywater/committees/ashburton/Pages/Default.aspx
Meeting details
Ashburton Water Zone Committee meeting
26 January 2016, 1pm
Council Meeting Room, 2 Baring Square East, Ashburton
ENDS