Environment Canterbury Office Tuam Street

Committee considers regional plans and dust monitoring

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Environment Canterbury's Strategy and Policy Committee met on Wednesday 2 September to consider a range of issues shaping the region's future, including progress on key regional strategies and plans, the next steps for a proposed dust monitoring programme in Yaldhurst, and upcoming central government reforms.

Councillors also discussed how national policy and legislative changes could affect Canterbury communities and Environment Canterbury's future work.

Progress on regional strategies and plans

The committee received a new six-monthly progress report for various regional strategies and plans.

Recent milestones included:

Councillors also heard that $500,000 in Canterbury Water Management Strategy funding had been allocated to 37 community projects across the region.

Quarry dust monitoring proposal

The committee considered the findings from recent community engagement on a proposed quarry dust monitoring programme for Yaldhurst and agreed not to put the programme forward for funding consideration through the Long-Term Plan process.

The decision followed consideration of the proposed approach and its limitations, including challenges around source attribution and mixed confidence in the results.

While there remains community concern about quarry dust, the engagement indicated the programme may not provide information that would resolve ongoing questions about dust sources.

Environment Canterbury will continue to respond to quarry dust through its existing consenting, compliance and enforcement functions, while working with quarry operators to support good dust management practices.

Central Government update

The committee received an update on central government reforms and policy proposals that could affect regional councils and endorsed council’s approach to a range of government consultations.

These include work on:

  • national policy direction
  • freshwater management
  • biosecurity and climate change.

It was noted that there is a significant amount of legislative reform underway and Environment Canterbury continues to play an ongoing role in advocating for Canterbury's interests through submissions and engagement with Government.

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