April 13, 2006

Selwyn residents invited to have a say in ECan’s LTCCP

Managing the region’s precious water resources, pest control issues and public transport are but a few of the issues in Environment Canterbury’s draft Long Term Council Community Plan that will be explained later this month to Selwyn residents. The draft LTCCP sets out the estimated budget for Environment Canterbury projects during the next ten years, and residents in the region are being encouraged to have their say by making submissions before the end of the month.

Selwyn regional councillor, Bill Woods will discuss the key directions for the plan, which is strongly driven by increased efforts to manage water quality and quantity. Public consultation on community outcomes has established that healthy water is a high priority, says Cr Woods.

“It is our job to set sustainable allocation limits for groundwater to protect the environment and provide a reasonable reliability of supply,” he says, noting that Selwyn/Rakaia underground aquifers are already under huge stress and in some areas indications are that sustainability levels have been reached. “There is no room for complacency. We have our work cut out for us during the next ten years. Water storage or a user pay system are just some of the options on the table at the moment and we’re counting on the public to help us find the solutions,” says Cr Woods.

But, hand in hand with water shortages goes water quality. Land use intensification and discharge of contaminants are affecting Canterbury’s water quality in some areas and this has implications for ecosystems, sources of drinking water, people’s health and recreation. Cr Woods says it’s important communities take note of Environment Canterbury’s successful Living Streams projects, which aim to improve land management practices that impact on water quality in lowland streams. “This involves working with the community,” says Cr Woods. “We all have a role to play in protecting the region’s streams.”

Selwyn residents are being invited to attend a meeting to hear about these issues on Thursday, April 27, at the Malvern Recreation and Social Centre in Darfield. The meeting starts at 7.30pm.

ENDS

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