Media release

14 September 2015

Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee focuses on biodiversity actions

The Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee will meet in Waimate on Wednesday 16 September for its monthly water management meeting.

The committee will begin the meeting by discussing how it can enhance biodiversity values in the zone by allocating the majority of its Immediate Steps funding to four priority areas; the Waitaki River Mouth; Areas of Grey Scrub; Waitaki River riparian wetlands; and Northern Fan spring heads.

Immediate Steps 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. There is still significant funding available for local biodiversity projects – application forms can be found by searching ‘Immediate Steps’ at www.ecan.govt.nz.

The committee will then receive an update on resource consents in the zone before turning its attention to sub-regional planning in the zone. The sub-regional planning process involves working with the community to develop recommendations on how to set and achieve water quality limits that will meet its cultural, economic, environmental and social aspirations.

The committee has completed recommendations for water quality and quantity in the South Coastal Canterbury part of the zone and water quality in the Lower Waitaki part. These recommendations will be translated into planning provisions and a suite of non-statutory actions.

The Lower Waitaki - South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee operates as a joint committee of Environment Canterbury and the Waimate and Waitaki District Councils. The zone extends from the Otaio catchment in the north, to the Waitaki Dam in the south, taking in Waimate, Kurow and Duntroon.

Meeting information

Zone Committee meeting

Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee meeting
1:00pm, Wednesday, 16 September, 2015
Waimate District Council, Queen Street, Waimate

For a copy of the agenda visit the Lower Waitaki page at www.ecan.govt.nz .

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