Media release

24 February 2014

Canterbury Water Kaikoura Zone Committee Meeting

The Kaikoura Zone Committee will meet on Wednesday, 26 February, for its monthly water management public meeting.

The meeting will begin with an update on the preparation of the Kaikoura Zone Supplement for the Wai Water series.

Wai Water is a community awareness and education publication, which underpins the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) and is linked to its targets and principles. It is aimed at communities including schools and wider community groups interested in water management.

Zone specific supplements have already been produced for the Hurunui-Waiau, Waimakariri, and Orari-Opihi-Pareora water zones.

Following this, the zone committee will receive an update from the Kaikoura District Council on the Restoration Plan for the Waikōau/Lyell Creek and consider what support the Committee can provide to the plan’s preparation.

In 2012 the Kaikoura Zone Committee identified Waikōau/Lyell Creek as a priority for the district. The committee has a vision for the creek, one of crystal clear water with fully fenced and planted riparian margins which provide for mahinga kai gathering, recreation and enhanced biodiversity.

Actions to help improve the condition of Waikōau/Lyell Creek will include working with land-owners on weed control, riparian planting, and stock exclusion fencing initiatives.

Next, the committee will receive an update on the progress made on the Integrated Weed Management Strategy in the Clarence River catchment before it goes on to discuss theLand Use Water Quality (LUWQ) and Immediate Steps Programme reviews.

The LUWQ and Immediate Steps programmes are two of the key on-the-ground programmes which deliver the goals of the CWMS in the zone.

The Land Use and Water Quality and Immediate Steps Programmes are both being reviewed by Environment Canterbury as part of Environment Canterbury’s Long Term Plan review.

To do this, the CWMS Regional Committee will host two half-day inter-zone committee workshops. This approach will enable zone committees to input directly to the review from a zone perspective, and help inform a regional perspective through the Regional Committee.

The LUWQ is a collaborative project between Environment Canterbury and a number of primary sector and non-governmental organisations. It works alongside the CWMS and aims to assess the effects of land use on the region’s waterways and their associated ecosystems. It also involves extensive work with the community to develop processes and tools which can be used to reduce nutrient run-off and leaching into waterways.

The Immediate Steps programme aims for the protection of ecosystems and habitats to conserve indigenous freshwater diversity. Zone committees decide the priorities for each zone and distribute the funding, which also requires a third party contribution.

The committee will finish the meeting by receiving a presentation from Environment Canterbury on the Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP) which sets the framework to implement community aspirations for water through the CWMS.

As well as addressing water quality and quantity issues, the LWRP enables earthquake recovery and considers other important issues for Canterbury’s future such as land stability, flood protection, and biodiversity. The plan also sets controls on the leaching of nitrates and covers a wide range of land-use activities that have an impact on the quality of water in both urban and rural areas.

The Kaikoura zone committee was launched in mid-2011 as a joint committee of the Kaikoura District Council and Environment Canterbury. Monthly zone committee meetings are open to the public to attend, and have a chance to contribute to the meeting, if they wish.

Zone Committee Meeting information

Kaikoura Zone Committee meeting

12pm, Wednesday, 26 February, 2014

Memorial Hall Supper Room, Esplanade, Kaikoura.

For an agenda visit the Kaikoura page at www.ecan.govt.nz/canterburywater prior to the meeting.

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