Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee discusses local biodiversity issues and water-use efficiency

The Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee will meet at 1pm on Tuesday, 6 October, at the Selwyn District Council offices for its regular monthly water management meeting.

The committee will begin the meeting by discussing its upcoming field trip and meeting with the Ashburton Zone Committee on the Rakaia River. The field trip will include updates from Trustpower on enhancement activities, Environment Canterbury on water quality and flows, and there will be updates from Fish and Game, local hut users and land care groups.

The zone committee will then consider a local biodiversity project for Immediate Steps funding to fence and plant around a local wetland. The zone committee has around $50,000 of its $500,000 Immediate Steps fund left to help deliver local freshwater biodiversity goals. If you have a project that could benefit from funding search Immediate Steps at www.ecan.govt.nz or phone Environment Canterbury on 0800 324 636.

At the meeting the committee will also receive a presentation from Irrigation NZ on its SMART Irrigation campaign to raise public awareness of the need to use water wisely on-farm and at home.

This will be followed by a report from Environment Canterbury on Russell Lupins and the work being done to manage their serious ecological threat while balancing their use as a fodder crop on high country farms.

The committee will finish the meeting by receiving results of a survey of Canterbury farmers on their perceptions of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS). The survey indicates farmers agree efficient water management is essential and most are aware there are new rules governing nutrient losses. About two-thirds of the farmers interviewed said they were somewhat or very familiar with the CWMS.

The Selwyn - Waihora Zone Committee is a joint committee of the Christchurch City and Selwyn District councils, and Environment Canterbury. Meetings are typically held monthly on a Tuesday and members of the public are welcome to attend and contribute.

The committee is currently seeking new community members to join the committee as part of a region-wide process to ensure new perspectives are reflected. See www.ecan.govt.nz/canterbury water for more.

Meeting information

Selwyn - Waihora Zone Committee meeting

Tuesday, 6 October, at 1pm
Selwyn District Council Offices, Norman Kirk Drive, Rolleston

ENDS

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