Lower Waitaki Zone Committee focuses on water quality limits

The Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee will meet in Waimate on Wednesday 15 July for its monthly water management meeting.

The committee will begin by welcoming its new members, which have been appointed to the committee as part of a process to ensure a wide range of views are reflected. The new appointments are Andrew Hayes, Mark Giles, Mark Kingsbury and Bruce Murphy.

Next, the committee will receive an update from Dairy NZ, Fonterra, and Oceania on sustainable dairy initiatives and research in the zone.

The committee will then receive updates on two Sub Regional Planning processes in the zone. The committee has completed recommendations for water quality and quantity in the South Coastal Canterbury part of the zone and water quality in the Lower Waitaki part.

As part of this, the committee will consider a draft implementation work programme designed to deliver the ‘on the ground actions’ to implement priority outcomes in the zone.

At the meeting the committee will also consider a project for Immediate Steps biodiversity funding that aims to protect and enhance a local wetland.
Immediate Steps aims for the protection of ecosystems and habitats to conserve indigenous freshwater diversity. Zone committees decide the priorities for each zone and distribute the funding. There is still significant funding available for local biodiversity projects – application forms can be found by searching ‘Immediate Steps’ at www.ecan.govt.nz.

The Lower Waitaki - South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee operates as a joint committee of Environment Canterbury and the Waimate and Waitaki District Councils. The zone extends from the Otaio catchment in the north, to the Waitaki Dam in the south, taking in Waimate, Kurow and Duntroon.

Zone Committee meeting information

Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee meeting
1:00pm, Wednesday, 15 July, 2015
Waimate Community Centre, Queen Street, Waimate

ENDS

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