Upper Waitaki Zone Committee focuses on future water management planning and biodiversity

The Upper Waitaki Zone Committee will meet for its monthly meeting in Twizel on Friday, 18 September to discuss local water management issues.

The meeting will begin with contributions from members of the public and this will be followed by the election of a Chair and Deputy Chair, which are both elected annually.

The committee will then receive an update on biodiversity enhancement projects in the zone and consider a local wetland fencing project for Immediate Steps.

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 going on to identify key areas for installing toilet facilities to help protect water quality at popular tourist and recreational areas.

The committee will finish the meeting with an update on 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’s ZIP and recently completed ZIP Addendum have recommendations for both non-statutory and statutory actions to deliver the goals and targets of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy in the zone. These recommendations will help guide the zone specific rules that will be incorporated into the proposed Land & Water Regional Plan.

The Upper Waitaki Zone Committee operates as a joint committee of Environment Canterbury and the Waitaki, Waimate and Mackenzie District councils. Zone committee meetings are open to the public and community members are encouraged to attend.

Meeting details

Upper Waitaki Zone Committee Meeting

9.30am, Friday, 18 September

Mackenzie Country Inn, Twizel

For an agenda visit the Upper Waitaki page at: www.ecan.govt.nz/canterburywater .

ENDS

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