Canterbury Water Management Strategy
November 11, 2009
MEDIA STATEMENT
Environment Canterbury councillors today voted to
endorse the Canterbury Water Management Strategy –
Strategic Framework November 2009. The strategy document was
recently released by the Canterbury Mayoral forum, which
comprises the chair and chief executive of the regional
council and the mayors and chief executives of the city and
district councils.
Environment Canterbury chairman
Alec Neill said he was delighted that the regional council
had endorsed the framework document by ten votes to two at
today’s meeting. He believed that the Council needed to
show leadership in promoting the strategy as it will play a
pivotal role in its implementation.
“It is important
that we as a council lead the way to endorse the strategy
and I look forward to other local territorial authorities
putting their weight behind this important
document.
“The Canterbury Water Management Strategy
is breaking new ground in bringing together people with
wide-ranging water interests seeking a consensus pathway,
not an adversarial one dominated by court action. It needs
to deliver sustainable solutions for water use in Canterbury
which will benefit many communities of interest as well as
the environment, not one at the expense of the other.
“The need for people to have confidence in the
strategy and its ability to deliver real gains was well made
by several councillors today and will be an ongoing
necessity for its long-term success.
“Environment
Canterbury councillors accept that there is a lot of work to
be done. With the implementation comes a cost and it is
important that we as a council do not hide from the costs
associated with implementation. This needs to be a
partnership between Central Government, Environment
Canterbury and local territorial authorities. The community
will have a say about funding, including biodiversity
restoration projects. The regional council will address its
funding contribution through a variation to the regional
council’s long term council community plan, early next
year.
“However today it was good to hear all
councillors put forward wide-ranging viewpoints, accept
amendments and agree upon the key concerns. It is a positive
start for the implementation programme and actions outlined
in the Canterbury Water Management Strategy framework
document.”
The resolution passed at today’s
council meeting is:
That the Council endorses the
Canterbury Water Management Strategy – Strategic Framework
November 2009, noting in particular the vision statement
“To enable present and future generations to gain the
greatest social, economic, recreational and cultural
benefits from our water resources within an environmentally
sustainable framework”, and requires:
* A report to
Council by March 1, 2010 on funding principles, models and
alternatives to rates for ongoing implementation of the
Strategy and progress achieved on how they might be applied
in the Strategy,
* Monthly reporting to Council of
progress, particularly on
– the legal powers work,
– the establishment, accountability and funding of
zonal and regional water management committees,
–
supply side arrangements, and
– implementation of
Immediate Steps restoration programme
to enable Council
to formulate and decide on any proposals which would affect
the Regional Council's role and statutory functions,
including the establishment of the water executive, and/or
current implementation of those functions, and
*
Advice from each territorial authority as to their capacity
to help fund implementation.
* That Council finalises
by March 2010 a work programme and draft budget for the
2010/2011 financial year.
To read the strategy
framework: http://www.canterburywater.org.nz/ ">http://www.canterburywater.org.nz/
or
http://www.canterburywater.org.nz/downloads/Canterbury%20Water%20Management%20Strategy%2005%2011%2009.pdf
ENDS