October 24, 2007

ECan chair re-elected, new deputy chair

Sir Kerry Burke has been re-elected chairperson of Environment Canterbury and North Canterbury councillor Jo Kane is the ECan deputy chairperson.

Sir Kerry won the vote at today’s inaugural 2007-2010 Canterbury Regional Council meeting 8-6 after an adjournment and division. An earlier show of hands indicated a tie between Sir Kerry and the other candidate for chair, Cr Alec Neill.

The councillors voting for Sir Kerry Burke for chair were Sir Kerry, Jane Demeter, Jo Kane, Bob Kirk, Bronwen Murray, Eugenie Sage, David Sutherland and Rik Tindall.

The councillors voting for Cr Alec Neill for chair were Cr Neill, Pat Harrow, Carole Evans, Ross Little, Angus McKay, and Mark Oldfield.

Cr Burke has been on the council for three terms to date, the latter term as chair.

Both candidates for the chair reiterated the need for a collaborative, inclusive approach working with central government, all territorial councils in Canterbury Region, new Christchurch City mayor Bob Parker and all people from Kaikoura to the Waitaki District.

Cr Kane, the successful deputy chair candidate, was previously deputy mayor of Waimakariri District Council.

Also at today’s council meeting all 14 regional councillors for the 2007-2010 term were sworn in. The new line-up is: Crs Bronwen Murray and Mark Oldfield, South Canterbury; Cr Angus McKay, Rakaia; Cr Eugenie Sage, Banks Peninsula and Selwyn; Crs Rik Tindall and David Sutherland, Christchurch East; Crs Jane Demeter and Carole Evans, Christchurch North; Crs Bob Kirk and Sir Kerry Burke, Christchurch South; Crs Alec Neill and Pat Harrow, Christchurch West; Crs Ross Little and Jo Kane, North Canterbury.

The first business meeting for the ECan council is on November 7, at 8.30 am, ECan Christchurch office, 58 Kilmore St.

ENDS

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Scoop Business: Bathurst Gets Nod For DoC Access To Denniston Mine

Conservation Minister Nick Smith has approved access over conservation estate land for Bathurst Resources to develop an open cast coal mine on the Denniston Plateau, above Westport, to the dismay of environmental opponents.

The timing for Smith’s move avoids Bathurst having to resubmit applications for access agreements under the revised Crown Minerals Act, which comes into force tomorrow and would have required public consultation.

The announcement lands in the middle of delicate negotiations between the company, environmental groups and other interested parties that could pave the way to a broader agreement on the Escarpment proposal, whose resource consents are still subject to court appeals. More>>