15 December

Lower Waitaki Zone Committee focuses on Wainono Lagoon

The Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee will meet for the final time this year in Studholme on Wednesday 16 December to discuss local water issues.

A key focus for the committee will be on Wainono Lagoon which has national and international importance for its birdlife and native fish. Work to protect and restore animals and plants in and around the lagoon is being supported by landowners and rūnanga, the Wainono Water Users Group, QEII Trust, Fish & Game, central and local government, and the zone committee.

To date more than 30km of fencing has been erected, 21km of stream banks reshaped and battered to prevent erosion, 3000 plants have been planted, and more than half of the catchment is covered by Farm Environment Plans.

At the meeting the committee will hold a workshop to bring together the threads of work that have been completed and identify gaps where more needs to be done.

Prior to the workshop the committee will elect its Chair and Deputy Chair for the coming year and review its annual report which highlights the progress being made to implement the CWMS in the zone and identifies future challenges.

The committee will also receive an update on the Waikakahi rehabilitation and research project which looks at the effects of the stream enhancement initiative on fish habitats.

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

Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee meeting
1:30pm, Wednesday 16 December, 2015
Studholme Hotel, South Canterbury

ends

© Scoop Media