Christchurch West Melton Water Zone Committee Action Plan 2021-2024
Each of Waitaha/Canterbury’s water zone committees has an action plan which outlines how they will work with the community to deliver their aspirations for freshwater as outlined in the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS).
The CWMS puts the future of our water resources in the hands of the community. Zone committees work collaboratively to develop recommendations for councils and other organisations to deliver shared goals and targets.
Committee purpose
To uphold the mana of the freshwater bodies within Christchurch West Melton by facilitating enduring land and water management solutions that give effect to the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) vision, principles and targets in our zone.
The CWMS aims 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.
Committee role
- To get involved in an active programme of community engagement on freshwater management matters.
- To facilitate relevant advice to councils and other organisations contributing to freshwater management.
- To extend the resources available to implement the CWMS by: working with stakeholders across all sectors and seeking opportunities to promote, support, leverage and expand catchment-based initiatives that deliver the CWMS.
- To report back annually to councils and Rūnanga on progress towards delivery of the zone-specific priorities.
Cashmere stream weed control
Informing the public of our Stormwater Superhero campaign
Our actions
Find out more about how we're tracking to achieve our goals and what progress has been made in the last year.
View the 2022/23 progress report.
He Tangata / the people, Mahi tahi / partnership and engagement:
- Engage with the Community Waterways Partnership and help it to grow. Support initiatives that are part of the Partnership.
- Engage with community groups to understand their challenges and needs and support their initiatives.
- Carry out a Stormwater Superhero awareness campaign and awards programme and provide financial support for the facilitation of the Stormwater Superhero trailer.
- Educate the community about values and threats to the health of groundwater, springs and surface waterways. This will help the community understand simple actions they can take.
- Participate in regional and local planning reforms in relation to freshwater management and encourage the community to participate.
He huringa āhuarangi / a changing climate:
- Advocate to Councils that they build community understanding of the impacts of climate change on urban waterways. Advocate to Councils that they identify opportunities for adaptation that will increase the ecosystem resilience of urban waterways.
- Advocate to Councils for more effective mechanisms that conserve water, reduce contaminant pollution and improve waterway health such as rain water tanks and water sensitive urban design.
He Whenua ora / a living environment:
- Advocate to councils for improved erosion and sediment control. Progress initiatives collaboratively, that the Committee has jointly identified with Banks Peninsula Zone Committee and Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour. These initiatives include:
- documenting and sharing practical knowledge;
- identifying sources of erosion and finding solutions;
- exploring opportunities for a soil conservation programme on Banks Peninsula;
- and advocating for the Canterbury ESC Toolbox to include agriculture and forestry.
- Participate in the collaborative development of a Ki Uta Ki Tai Port Hills Management Plan.
- Form a sub-group that includes Committee Rūnanga and Council representatives and Chair. Their role will be to give effect to CWMS target of establishing five mahinga kai projects by 2025.
- Advocate for national mechanisms to reduce urban contaminants at source, in particular, copper and zinc from roofs, tyres and brake pads.
- Support the Healthy Waterbodies Action Plan and advocate for a collaborative partnership for its development and implementation.
- Advocate to Councils, Te Whatu Ora and Te Mana Ora that they undertake faecal source tracking for waterways with high recreational use such as Ōtukaikino, Ōtākaro/Avon River (particularly Kerrs Reach to Estuary), and Ihutai/Avon-Heathcote Estuary. Advocate to these agencies that once faecal sources are identified, they take actions to reduce these sources and their recreational health risk.
Council priorities
Zone committees are joint committees of local and regional councils, with mana whenua and community representation. Councils provide CWMS priorities for each zone committee to guide the committee’s action plans.
Christchurch City Council priorities
Public awareness and engagement
Model manaakitanga (caring and respect) for our waters and promote takohanga (commitment) and kaitiakitanga (stewardship) through:
- Leading water forums and supporting CCC initiatives to give effect to Te Mana o Te Wai;
- Advocacy of and support for the Community Water Partnership, connections with members’ community and professional networks;
- Supporting erosion and sediment control workshops for industry.
Selwyn District Council priorities
Align all zone activities with the overall social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing for the district.
Environment Canterbury priorities
Kaitiakitanga Wāhi Taonga and mahinga kai targets
- Grow support and resources to achieve the goal of five mahinga kai projects.
Ecosystem health and biodiversity targets
- Increased riparian management to protect aquatic ecosystems.
- Reducing the number of fish barriers.
- Protection and enhancement of wetlands.
Recreation and amenity targets
- Achieving the 2025 target to restore priority freshwater recreation opportunities in each zone.