Media Release
19 February 2015

New members appointed to Christchurch West Melton Zone Committee

The Christchurch - West Melton Zone Committee has appointed two new community members to help deliver the goals of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy. The new members are Andrew Congalton and Islay McLeod.

Andrew Congalton is a chartered environmental and civil engineer with more than ten years experience in land development, sustainable design practices, contaminated land investigations and stormwater projects. Andrew lives in St Albans, works for an engineering design consultancy and is a keen fisherman.
Islay McLeod has extensive experience with private and public sector organisations in advertising, communications and event management roles. Islay lives in Linwood, is a member of the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai Trust, and is currently the Deputy Chair of the Hagley-Ferrymead Community Board.
Each of Canterbury’s ten water management zone committees has undergone a refresh of community members over the past six months to ensure fresh perspectives are represented. Members are appointed by a joint council and Ngāi Tahu committee.

“I am delighted that we have two new members of the zone committee who come with significant experience and expertise that will add a new dimension to our committee’s work,” said Arapata Reuben, chair of the Christchurch West Melton zone committee.

“All members of the zone committee are committed to achieving good outcomes for their local communities and we look forward to working with Andrew and Islay. I also want to thank retiring members Jane Doogue and Hamish Keown for their commitment and energy in supporting the work of the committee over the past years.”

“We had a large number of very well qualified people apply for the positions on the committee and I want to acknowledge and thank the unsuccessful candidates for their expression of interest in working with the community to find solutions for water issues. This is an issue that generates a great deal of interest and the zone committees provide an opportunity for individuals to make a positive difference in local water management,” he added.

The Canterbury Water Management Strategy and zone committees
Implementation of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy commenced in 2010 following several years of community consultation to determine how best to manage the region’s water resource. The CWMS provides a collaborative community framework for addressing issues about water management. The Strategy’s vision is 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.

Ten zone committees are responsible for developing water management programmes that give effect to established targets for their respective areas. Zone committees are made of community members, council representatives and Rūnanga. Members are appointed for three years and meet every few weeks to gather information about water in their zone before reaching a consensus on a water management programme.

The CWMS Regional Committee considers regional issues of environmental restoration and repair; land use impacts on water quality; as well as water storage, distribution and efficiency options. Its composition is similar to that of the zone committees.

Online information: www.ecan.govt.nz and click the Canterbury Water link

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