Banks Peninsula Zone Committee to hear ECan’s recommendations on Lake Forsyth/Wairewa plan change

Environment Canterbury staff will present their recommendations on proposed changes to the Lake Forsyth/Wairewa section of the Land and Water Regional Plan to the Banks Peninsula Zone Committee at its first meeting on February 16.

The recommendations follow staff evaluation of the nine original submissions and 16 further submissions received to the plan change which was publicly notified in October last year.

The proposed change to the Land and Water Regional Plan addresses water quality and quantity issues in the Lake Forsyth/Wairewa catchment and implements the recommendations of the Banks Peninsula Zone Committee on how to manage and protect water in the area.

It includes provisions about environmental flow and allocation regimes for the Ōkana, Ōkuti and Takiritawai rivers and their tributaries; keeping stock out of waterways; opening and closing the lake and water quality limits/targets for the lake and rivers.

The recommendations will be presented to the independent hearing panel comprising Gordon Whiting, Andrew Fenemor and a third person to be appointed in March, but are not binding.

Hearings on the Lake Forsyth/Wairewa plan change will begin April 19 at the Lincoln Events Centre.

The full report and recommendations from Environment Canterbury staff is available here

For more information about the hearings process click here

The zone committee will also appoint a chair, deputy and regional committee representative at its meeting on Tuesday.

Banks Peninsula Zone Committee Meeting
Tuesday 16 February 2016, 4pm
Living Springs, Allandale

ENDS

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