Research updates key on Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee’s agenda

The Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee meeting on Tuesday, 3 November will feature research updates on local stream augmentation, nitrate risk maps for private drinking water, and waterway rehabilitation.

Updates on two local trials into stream augmentation – the process of adding water to streams to enhance flows – will be provided to the zone committee by Environment Canterbury staff. The increased flow in the initial trial at Boggy Creek resulted in a decrease in water quality fluctuations and an increase in habitat for aquatic species.

The committee will also receive a report from Environment Canterbury on the areas with high nitrate risks in the zone and how this may impact on private water supplies. An update of the 2013 report “Risk maps of nitrate in Canterbury groundwater” was released in June 2015 by Environment Canterbury and Canterbury Public Health to provide information about the risk of nitrate contaminations in groundwater used for drinking.

At the meeting the committee will also receive a report from Environment Canterbury on its Canterbury Region Dairy Report for the 2014-2015 Season. The report shows nearly 70% of farms in the Selwyn-Waihora Zone were compliant with all the conditions of their resource consents. This is a significant increase in the level of compliance compared with 2013–2014 (54%) and is above the regional average of 64%.

The meeting will finish with an update on Plan Change 5 (PC5) to the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP). PC5 includes new region-wide nutrient management policies and rules that relate to the use of land for a farming activity.

Most of the Selwyn-Waihora Zone is covered by Plan Change 1 which is currently subject to high court appeals and once these have been resolved the proposed PC5 rules would not apply in this zone. The committee will be updated on these appeals early in the meeting.

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.

Meeting information

Selwyn - Waihora Zone Committee meeting
Tuesday, 3 November, at 1pm
Selwyn District Council Offices, Norman Kirk Drive, Rolleston

For a link to agenda visit the Selwyn – Waihora Zone Committee page at: www.ecan.govt.nz/canterburywater

ENDS

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