MEDIA RELEASE

November 7, 2013

New committee structure adopted

Otago regional councillors yesterday adopted a new structure of standing committees to better equip the council to implement major policy changes in conjunction with the community over the next few years.

Under the new structure recommended by ORC chairman Stephen Woodhead, the former engineering and natural hazards committee and the natural resources committee have been replaced with a technical committee and a communications committee.

The technical committee will receive analysis of the council’s science and monitoring information, and provide governance for the management of waterways, flood and drainage schemes and natural hazards programmes.
The communications committee will monitor and guide stakeholder engagement, education, public information, and publications activities.

The number of standing committees remains at five.

The committee chairmen and deputies for the principal committees appointed yesterday  are:

Policy committee: Chairwoman Cr Gretchen Robertson, deputy chairman Cr Michael Deaker.

Technical committee: Chairman Cr Bryan Scott, deputy chairman Cr Doug Brown.

Finance and corporate committee: Chairman Cr David Shepherd, deputy chairman Cr Gary Kelliher.

Regulatory committee: Chairman, Cr Sam Neill, deputy chairman, Cr Gerry Eckhoff.

Communications committee: Chairman Cr Trevor Kempton, deputy chairman Cr Graeme Bell.
Cr Woodhead said the appointments reflected the blend of skills and experience around the council table, and the need for a more integrated governance structure which would reflect pending changes in the council’s operational structure.

“We are positioning ourselves to launch into a period of new activity with our communities to bed in the changes we have recently made to the Otago Water Plan, and the new committee structure reflects that.”

“I have tried to spread the upcoming workload across councillors and in the process harness their strengths. I look forward to their contributions as we work through this period of activity.’’.

Over coming years council staff would be working intensively with landholders and other stakeholders to ensure the practical steps needed to improve many aspects of water management throughout Otago were put in place.

“The end result of this important work will be better freshwater quality and improved allocation processes benefitting the whole region.” Cr Woodhead said.

ENDS

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