MEDIA ADVISORY
23 August 2013

Orari-Opihi-Pareora Zone Committee Meeting

The Orari-Opihi-Pareora (OOP) Zone Committee will meet in Timaru on Monday (26 August) for its monthly meeting to address water management issues in the zone.

The public meeting will start with an opportunity for members of the public to contribute, should they wish, before it goes on to discuss the process for refreshing structure and membership of the ten Canterbury Water zone committees.

There will be an opportunity for new members to join zone committees in many of the zones later this year. Interested community members can come along to a meeting to find out more prior to expressions of interest being called for.

A key focus for the zone committee is currently on implementing its Zone Implementation Programme (ZIP) for water management. At Monday’s meeting the committee will be updated on infrastructure development for bringing additional water in to the zone – a key priority outcome in the committee’s ZIP.

Bringing additional water into the zone will allow for enhanced environmental outcomes, and to replace existing surface and groundwater takes. It will also provide for an increase in irrigated land area.

At the meeting the committee will also receive an update on catchment activities to implement the on-the-ground actions in the ZIP. The committee is currently focussed progressing community engagement and on-farm water and nutrient management in priority areas by developing work plans for each catchment group.

The committee will finish the meeting by receiving a report on phosphorus management in the zone, and what can be done to address water quality concerns.

Prior to the public meeting, the committee will hold a closed workshop to develop its work programme for the coming years. The committee will discuss the progress being made to implement the priority areas outlined in its ZIP, and then look at the process to be followed to develop the sub-regional plan for the zone in coming years.

The OOP Zone Committee operates as a joint committee of Environment Canterbury and the Timaru and Mackenzie District Councils. The zone extends south from the Rangitata River through to the Pareora catchment. It includes all of the Timaru district and parts of the Mackenzie and Waimate districts.

Meeting Details

Orari-Opihi-Pareora Zone Committee meeting
1:00pm, Monday, 26 August, 2013
Meeting Room 1, Timaru District Council, 2 King George Place, Timaru

For an agenda visit: http://ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/canterburywater/committees/orari-opihi-paeora/Pages/Default.aspx .

ENDS

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