A new model for funding environmental investigations and monitoring water was adopted for consultation at today’s Environment Canterbury council meeting.
Council chairman Alec Neill said it was good to see councillors endorse the overall proposal with 11 votes for and two against. This contrasted with last year’s seven:seven division which led to the deferral of the policy and further consultation.
During their deliberations, council took into account significant work and feedback provided by the cross-sectoral working group that has been investigating issues since August 2009. This included a significant consultation programme with consent holders.
Up until now, costs associated with state of the environment monitoring have been funded 100% by general rates across all ratepayers. However in this case, the demand for irrigation in Canterbury and declining water quality from rural and urban land use in recent years are driving additional scientific investigations and monitoring work.
The part charges (at 30% of total cost) will transfer $2.4 million from the general rate paid by all property owners, (where it is currently funded), into charges upon water resource consent holders, including hydro companies and territorial councils. This would leave $5.3 million to continue to be funded out of general rates.
“The working group is keen to ensure local accountability with zone committees reviewing and influencing work plans for each year’s investigations and monitoring and reporting to the local community and consent holders,” said Cr Neill.
“These zone committees will align with the Canterbury Water Management Strategy’s zone structure to streamline the implementation of water management cost recovery and share knowledge around the water resource. Submitters and people attending meetings last year were adamant that they wanted these functions to align to avoid unnecessary duplication and conserve time and resources.”
The council today also adopted a draft budget for community consultation on the Canterbury Water Management Strategy, which has had significant public and central government support.
For further information: Environment Canterbury Chairman Alec Neill 0274 403 731 or deputy Chair and member of the working group for state of the environment monitoring Cr Jo Kane, 027 323 2326.
Further notes :
The working group is made up of three Environment Canterbury councillors, an individual to represent a general public viewpoint and representatives from the following organisations: Meridian Energy, Irrigation New Zealand, Federated Farmers, Horticulture NZ, Water Rights Trust and Selwyn District Council.
Benefits to the regional community of investigations and monitoring
Knowledge about the water resource enables early warning of changes in water resources or sustainability issues; ensures sustainable management; protects ecosystems; meets cultural and spiritual needs; ensures water is available for recreation; ensures a thriving rural sector which supports the regional economy and provides benefits to both regional and local economies and social gains from the use of water and ability to discharge in rural and urban areas.
Additional benefits to individual consents holders of investigations and monitoring
Knowledge about water resources helps consent holders have greater certainty of ongoing access to water, greater reliability and the ability to discharge; economic gains from the use of water and the ability to discharge in rural and urban areas; water not being unnecessarily withheld from allocation or discharge due to uncertainty about the extent of the resource; better information about cause and effect and correct attribution of effects to consent holders.