Media release

9 December 2015

Waipara river mouth and biodiversity key focuses for zone committee

The Hurunui-Waiau Zone Committee will meet on Monday 14 December in Amberley for its final monthly water management meeting of the year.

Prior to the meeting the committee will host a workshop (open to the public from1:30pm) to discuss preparations for the upcoming sub-regional planning process in the zone. The focus of the workshop will be on confirming the key land and water issues that need to be addressed.

The Hurunui - Waiau zone sub-regional section will feed in to the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan and is expected to be notified in 2018. Plan development will start 12 months prior to this, and scientific and water monitoring work will begin around July 2016.

The sub-regional process will review the Hurunui and Waiau River Regional Plan (HWRRP) and is likely to lead to some changes to its rules. The committee will work with local people to develop these recommendations and deliver their goals for water.

The full zone committee meeting will begin with updates from the Regional Committee, the Environment Canterbury Zone Team, and consent staff on the application for Kakapo Brook hydro-electricity and irrigation development.

At the meeting the committee will also discuss how proposed region-wide grazing and irrigation thresholds affect dryland farmers, and how Environment Canterbury has been working with them to address their concerns.

The committee will finish the meeting with a report on the Waipara River Hapua Action Strategy which has been developed by a group of interested people to providerecommendations on the management of the Waipara River mouth. The strategy includes the protection and enhancement of natural and mahinga kai values, river mouth openings and recreational (4WD) access.

The Hurunui-Waiau Zone Committee is a joint committee of Environment Canterbury and Hurunui District Council. It includes five community members, two Rūnanga representatives, and one each from Hurunui District Council and Environment Canterbury.

Meeting information

Hurunui-Waiau Zone Committee meeting

3.00pm, Monday, 14 December 2015 (Public workshop to commence at 1.30pm)

Council Chambers, Hurunui District Council, Amberley

For a copy of the agenda visit the Hurunui-Waiau committee page atwww.ecan.govt.nz/canterburywater .

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