Environment Canterbury’s budget for scientific investigations and monitoring work in the 2011/12 year is $7.6 million.
From the 2010/11 financial year, Environment Canterbury is recovering 30 per cent of the cost of this scientific work from consent holders.
Of the $7.6 million budgeted for science work, which previously was fully funded by general rates, the water consent holders’ share is now $2.3 million (30%) with the balance of $5.3 million still coming from general rates.
This new system provides a better balance between charging those who benefit from council services and those who drive demand for council services.
The money collected from consent-holders will be used to help fund scientific work in each zone and across the region.
The scientific investigations and monitoring work is required to better understand the nature of Canterbury’s freshwater resource.
Better understanding of the freshwater resource provides for better management, providing improved certainty and reliability for existing consent holders, as well as for those who apply for water consents in the future.
Water Science Charge 2011/12
