9 August 2011
MEDIA RELEASE

Upper Waitaki Zone Committee meeting

The Upper Waitaki Zone Committee will meet on Thursday August 11 in Omarama.

Since its formation in February the Upper Waitaki Zone Committee has met six times to bring members up to speed on water issues in the region. The Zone Committee has also been on three field trips to visit sites of interest and engage with community members.

At its meeting this week the Committee will hear presentations on water quality and water infrastructure options. The Waiau Fisheries Trust will present information on collaborative projects. The Zone Committee will also undertake a workshop on water quality and review priority areas and criteria for Immediate Steps Biodiversity projects.

Barry Shepherd, Chair of the Upper Waitaki Zone Committee, says he is pleased with the progress being made by the group.

“As a Zone Committee we are developing a good knowledge base of information about our region’s water resource. We are gaining understanding of how to meet the targets set out in the Canterbury Water Management Strategy and expect to develop our Zone Implementation Programme later this year.

“At that time we will be asking members of the public for their views on the priorities for water management in the Upper Waitaki zone.

“The Canterbury Water Management Strategy has been designed with collaboration in mind so we also hope to see a good turn-out of community members at this month’s meeting as their input is essential to guiding water management decisions in our region,” he said.

At previous meetings the Zone Committee has looked at climate variability, biodiversity and the links between land use intensification, water use with water quality.

The Upper Waitaki Zone Committee operates as a joint committee of Environment Canterbury and the Waitaki and Mackenzie District councils. It is charged with working collaboratively to develop an effective water implementation programme in consultation with the local community. The programme includes strategies, tactics and activities to give effect to the Canterbury Water Management Strategy’s principles and targets.

The Upper Waitaki Zone extends from the headwaters of Lake Tekapo in the north, east to the Waitaki Dam, south to the Lindis Pass and takes in Lakes Tekapo, Pukaki, Ohau, Benmore and Aviemore as well as the townships of Twizel, Otematata and Omarama.

The agenda and minutes are available at:

http://ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/canterburywater/committees/upper-waitaki/Pages/Default.aspx

ENDS

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