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.
For further information: Alec Neill, Chairman Environment Canterbury, 0274 403 731 or Canterbury Water Management Strategy steering committee members Crs Eugenie Sage 021 155 3937 or Angus McKay 03 302 8660.
Te read the strategy framework: http://www.canterburywater.org.nz/ or
http://www.canterburywater.org.nz/downloads/Canterbury%20Water%20Management%20Strategy%2005%2011%2009.pdf