Wallabies and land sale at April Council meeting

As temperatures dropped and rainclouds covered the city, Canterbury Regional Councillors dashed to the Tuam St chambers for April’s full Council meeting.

It was a session full of debate and opinion, particularly on the matters of increased funding for wallaby control, and the future of a small block of Environment Canterbury-owned land in Central Christchurch.

Chair Dr Deon Swiggs opened with acknowledgement of the passing of Adrienne Staples, Deputy Chair of Greater Wellington Regional Council and former mayor of South Wairarapa.

Cr Ian Mckenzie also called on the Council to pay their respects to Robert Engelbrecht, of Ashburton, who passed away recently. Engelbrecht was a former Chair of Irrigation New Zealand and a key figure in the agricultural development of Canterbury.

Both Staples and Engelbrecht’s contributions to their respective fields were acknowledged and commended.

Public Forum: Concerns raised about duck shooting at Te Waihora

Danette Wereta presented to Council on the harm of recreational duck shooting at Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere ahead of the season opening on Saturday 2 May.

She said it was counter-intuitive to position Te Waihora as a place of ecological significance while at the same time allowing ongoing disturbance and hunting.

Danette Wereta asked Environment Canterbury to apply a biosecurity lens to this activity, and asked Councillors the question: Are you willing to act when that activity undermines the very outcomes you are responsible for delivering?

Council agreed to provide a response to Wereta as soon as was practicable.

Funding boost accelerates wallaby containment efforts in Canterbury  

Canterbury Regional Council has approved the release of $2 million from its Pest Management Reserve to strengthen wallaby control efforts over the next two years. The decision came after spirited debate about pest control.

The funding will help accelerate control of the pests during the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years, helping to prevent wallabies spreading into new areas and reducing significantly higher control costs in the future.  

Council agrees to sell central Christchurch land

A majority of Councillors voted to sell a parcel of land at 207 St Asaph St, next to Environment Canterbury’s Tuam St offices. The site is commonly known for the giant spray can artwork and includes a basketball half court.

Councillors discussed the land’s value, future potential, and whether it was the right time to sell. After considering several options, they agreed with staff’s recommendation.

The land is not considered a strategic asset, or land held in Reserve (like much of Environment Canterbury’s riverside land) and the process to sell it will now begin.

Other matters considered by Council

Council also approved:

• An updated strategic risk profile which outlines key risks that could affect Environment Canterbury’s direction and goals. This was developed following input from Councillors and the Executive Leadership team.
• Updated terms of reference for the Canterbury Regional Transport Committee. As the committee is new this Council term, the changes remove outdated requirements and clarify how the committee operates.