Kaikōura Zone Committee focuses on local water quality and biodiversity values

The Kaikōura Zone Committee will meet for its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, 27 May to discuss local water management issues.

The meeting will begin with an opportunity for community members to speak before it goes on to receive updates from its Nutrient Management and Water Efficiency, and Love the Lyell / Waikōau working groups.

The committee will also be updated on some of its community engagement activities including a column from the chair, a newsletter, a youth engagement resource, and any other opportunities that are identified.

The committee will then receive an update on its Immediate Steps biodiversity funding programme which aims to protect 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 is particularly looking for long-term projects that build on existing work and are accessible to the public. It has also identified three priority areas for support; the Clarence/Waiau Toa River, Lyell/Waikōau Creek and Lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti.

There is still close to $320,000 to allocate to local biodiversity projects before the end of June next year. If you think you may have a project that could benefit from funding search Immediate Steps at www.ecan.govt.nz . Individuals or groups can apply for funding for on the ground projects that help protect or restore biodiversity in the region. Projects can be on private or public land.

The committee will finish the meeting with an update on the progress made on the Integrated Weed Management Strategy in the Clarence River catchment. The project aims to help enhance the zone’s biodiversity and ecosystems and mahinga kai resources.

Following the meeting the committee will go on a field trip to visit and review some of the recent project work being undertaken as part of the Love the Lyell project. The project aims to improve water quality in the long term across the catchment by creating a well informed and engaged urban community that is aware of the biodiversity value of the creek.

The Kaikōura Zone Water Committee was launched in mid-2011 to address local water issues and deliver the goals of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS).

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