MEDIA ADVISORY
30 January 2013


Waimakariri Zone Committee Meets For First Time This Year

The Waimakariri Zone Committee will meet for its first monthly meeting of the year on Monday, 4 February, in Rangiora.

Some of the key focus areas for the year ahead include the management of the Ashley / Rakahuri River, broadening lowland stream work, continuing work on Audited Self-Management and Farm Environmental Plans, and working with the community on freshwater management in the zone.

The committee will begin Monday’s meeting with an update from the Regional Committee, which considers region-wide issues of environmental restoration and repair; land use impacts on water quality; as well as water storage, distribution and efficiency options.

Following this, the committee will receive a report on its Eyrewell farm visit and a report from the committee’s water and nutrient sub-group.

Next, Chair Murray Lang will update the committee on the Natural Environment Recovery Programme (NERP).

NERP is being led by Environment Canterbury in partnership with CERA, Ngai Tahu, Ngā Papatipu Rūnanga, CDHB, DoC, and Territorial Authorities. It will contribute to a number of CERA’s earthquake Recovery Strategy’s goals, and engage multiple stakeholders.

It will be based on evidence and information collated from research, investigations and monitoring, and from groups and individuals in the community. The committee will discuss NERP in the context of the Waimakariri Zone Implementation Programme (ZIP).

The committee will then be updated on the progress of the Waimakariri River Working Group. The Working Group includes members from the Waimakariri, Selwyn-Waihora, and Christchurch-West Melton zone committees (the three zones the River crosses), and the Regional Committee.

The Working Group has been focussed on developing a common understanding of the underlying cultural, science, ecological and planning aspects of the river and identifying areas which need to be addressed. Representatives have also shared their priority outcomes and recommendations for the river.

The meeting will finish with an update on consents in the zone, a report on local lowland streams, and a discussion on the priorities for the coming year. Following this, members of the public will be given an opportunity to contribute should they wish.

At the conclusion of the meeting there will be a workshop to discuss the implications of the proposed Land and Water Regional Plan, for farmers and the community.

The zone committee operates as a joint committee of Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council. The Waimakariri Zone includes the Ashley River catchment and shares the Waimakariri catchment below the gorge with the Selwyn- Waihora and Christchurch-West Melton zones. It includes Kaiapoi, Rangiora and Oxford.

Meeting information

Waimakariri Zone Committee meeting
3:30pm, Monday, 4 February
Council Chambers, Waimakariri District, Council, 215 High Street, Rangiora

Link to agenda: http://ecan.govt.nz/publications/Council/cwms-zone-committee-agenda-4022013.pdf

ENDS

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