Latest news with #CWMS
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Hurunui Environmental Projects Receive Funding Boost
Article – David Hill – Local Democracy Reporter Six environmental projects are set to receive a funding boost from Environment Canterbury's Hurunui-Waiau Uwha zone action plan budget. Six North Canterbury environmental projects are set to receive a funding boost. The Hurunui District Council gave its support to funding totalling $50,000 from Environment Canterbury's (ECan) Hurunui-Waiau Uwha zone action plan budget, at a council meeting on Tuesday, May 27. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said she was impressed with the ''grassroots regeneration activity'' happening in the district. ''I felt quite excited when I read the report,'' she said The funding is usually allocated by the local zone committee, but the Hurunui-Waiau Uwha Zone Committee was disbanded in 2019. In the absence of a zone committee, ECan staff considered eight applications totalling $143,549 and sought feedback from the council and Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura. A weed control project on the Conway River, to stop the spread of purple willow (Salix purpurea) and false tamarisk (Myricaria germanica), has been allocated $9000. The project will be led by Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura Ltd, the business arm of the rūnanga, which provides employment opportunities for local youth. The Hurunui District Landcare Group applied for $50,000, but has been allocated $9605 to continue work implementing a catchment plan for Countess Stream, a subsidiary of the Waiau Uwha River. Funding of $10,000 has been allocated to continue a project to fence off waterways and complete riparian planting at Mt Palm, a 1918ha hill country property in the Amuri Basin. The Conway Landcare Biodiversity Group Nga Manu o Conway has been allocated $8625 to support ongoing work to protect native bush. Northern Pegasus Bay (Hurunui) Coastcare Inc applied for $29,914 and has been allocated $10,870 to support the protection of wetlands at Ashworths Beach, and protect bird nesting areas in the lagoons / estuaries of the Kowai and Waipara rivers. The remaining $1900 has been allocated to stage one of a $10,000 restoration project at Woolshed Creek. ECan land management and biodiversity advisor Andrew Turnbull said staff will work with the two unsuccessful applicants to explore other funding options. Those projects include the restoration of Moelean Swamp, in the Blythe River catchment, and efforts to protect the Spey Stream wetland. The remaining zone committees, which were established under the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS), are due to be disestablished next month. The Canterbury Mayoral Forum, which brings together the region's 10 mayors and ECan, is due to meet on Friday, May 30, to decide on the future leadership under the CWMS. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
28-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Hurunui Environmental Projects Receive Funding Boost
Six North Canterbury environmental projects are set to receive a funding boost. The Hurunui District Council gave its support to funding totalling $50,000 from Environment Canterbury's (ECan) Hurunui-Waiau Uwha zone action plan budget, at a council meeting on Tuesday, May 27. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said she was impressed with the ''grassroots regeneration activity'' happening in the district. ''I felt quite excited when I read the report,'' she said The funding is usually allocated by the local zone committee, but the Hurunui-Waiau Uwha Zone Committee was disbanded in 2019. In the absence of a zone committee, ECan staff considered eight applications totalling $143,549 and sought feedback from the council and Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura. A weed control project on the Conway River, to stop the spread of purple willow (Salix purpurea) and false tamarisk (Myricaria germanica), has been allocated $9000. The project will be led by Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura Ltd, the business arm of the rūnanga, which provides employment opportunities for local youth. The Hurunui District Landcare Group applied for $50,000, but has been allocated $9605 to continue work implementing a catchment plan for Countess Stream, a subsidiary of the Waiau Uwha River. Funding of $10,000 has been allocated to continue a project to fence off waterways and complete riparian planting at Mt Palm, a 1918ha hill country property in the Amuri Basin. The Conway Landcare Biodiversity Group Nga Manu o Conway has been allocated $8625 to support ongoing work to protect native bush. Northern Pegasus Bay (Hurunui) Coastcare Inc applied for $29,914 and has been allocated $10,870 to support the protection of wetlands at Ashworths Beach, and protect bird nesting areas in the lagoons / estuaries of the Kowai and Waipara rivers. The remaining $1900 has been allocated to stage one of a $10,000 restoration project at Woolshed Creek. ECan land management and biodiversity advisor Andrew Turnbull said staff will work with the two unsuccessful applicants to explore other funding options. Those projects include the restoration of Moelean Swamp, in the Blythe River catchment, and efforts to protect the Spey Stream wetland. The remaining zone committees, which were established under the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS), are due to be disestablished next month. The Canterbury Mayoral Forum, which brings together the region's 10 mayors and ECan, is due to meet on Friday, May 30, to decide on the future leadership under the CWMS. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Otago Daily Times
27-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Projects get $50k funding boost
Six North Canterbury environmental projects are set to receive a funding boost. The Hurunui District Council gave its support to funding totalling $50,000 from Environment Canterbury's (ECan) Hurunui-Waiau Uwha zone action plan budget, at a council meeting on Tuesday, May 27. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said she was impressed with the ''grassroots regeneration activity'' happening in the district. ''I felt quite excited when I read the report,'' she said The funding is usually allocated by the local zone committee, but the Hurunui-Waiau Uwha Zone Committee was disbanded in 2019. In the absence of a zone committee, ECan staff considered eight applications totalling $143,549 and sought feedback from the council and Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura. A weed control project on the Conway River, to stop the spread of purple willow (Salix purpurea) and false tamarisk (Myricaria germanica), has been allocated $9000. The project will be led by Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura Ltd, the business arm of the rūnanga, which provides employment opportunities for local youth. The Hurunui District Landcare Group applied for $50,000, but has been allocated $9605 to continue work implementing a catchment plan for Countess Stream, a subsidiary of the Waiau Uwha River. Funding of $10,000 has been allocated to continue a project to fence off waterways and complete riparian planting at Mt Palm, a 1918ha hill country property in the Amuri Basin. The Conway Landcare Biodiversity Group Nga Manu o Conway has been allocated $8625 to support ongoing work to protect native bush. Northern Pegasus Bay (Hurunui) Coastcare Inc applied for $29,914 and has been allocated $10,870 to support the protection of wetlands at Ashworths Beach, and protect bird nesting areas in the lagoons / estuaries of the Kowai and Waipara rivers. The remaining $1900 has been allocated to stage one of a $10,000 restoration project at Woolshed Creek. ECan land management and biodiversity advisor Andrew Turnbull said staff will work with the two unsuccessful applicants to explore other funding options. Those projects include the restoration of Moelean Swamp, in the Blythe River catchment, and efforts to protect the Spey Stream wetland. The remaining zone committees, which were established under the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS), are due to be disestablished next month. The Canterbury Mayoral Forum, which brings together the region's 10 mayors and ECan, is due to meet on Friday, May 30, to decide on the future leadership under the CWMS. By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
17-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Freshwater Management Review Offers Options
Hurunui's mayor doesn't expect too much change in the way freshwater is managed in her district, following a region wide review. The Canterbury Mayoral Forum - which represents local councils - will meet on May 30 to complete its review of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) zone committees and make recommendations on their replacements. The remaining zone committees will be disbanded next month. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black has been on the mayoral forum's working group looking at the restructure. The Hurunui District Council disbanded the Hurunui-Waiau Zone Committee in 2019, and it was later replaced by a land and water committee. Mrs Black said the land and water committee was similar to a zone committee, with representatives from the local council, Environment Canterbury (ECan), mana whenua and stakeholders, but had a different focus. She said the work of the zone committee was largely taken over by initiatives such as Hurunui Irrigation, the Hurunui District Landcare Group, the Hurunui Biodiversity Trust and local catchment groups. But she saw a role for a local leadership in providing oversight and guidance. ''I think there is still a desire to have something like the land and water committee to bring the stakeholders together. ''We don't need a big people structure, we just need to support people to do this work.'' The CWMS came into force in 2009, leading to the formation of 10 zone committees, which are a partnership between ECan, local councils, rūnanga and up to seven community representatives. Under the proposed new model, local leadership groups comprising council and rūnanga representatives, will replace the zone committees. It will be up to each local leadership group to determine its final makeup, including any community involvement. The Kaikōura and Waimakariri zone committees, which both have the backing of their local councils, have expressed frustration at the lack consultation in the review process. But Mrs Black said the review was necessary as not all zone committees were working as intended. ''I think it was expected local authorities would consult with their zone committees. ''I don't think the working group's desire is to fundamentally change the way freshwater is managed, but if councils need to fine tune their arrangements this will give them a way to do that.'' Mrs Black said the Hurunui-Waiau Zone Committee was the first to be established and the first to develop a zone implementation plan - a set of rules for local freshwater management. But there was some dissatisfaction with the zone committee and it lost its purpose once the plan was completed, she said. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
07-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Water Group Bids Farewell As Future Remains Cloudy
Waimakariri's water committee celebrated its successes at its final meeting on Monday, as uncertainty remains over its replacement. Waimakariri Zone Committee members past and present gathered in the Waimakariri District Council chambers to acknowledge the work of the committee over 15 years. The Canterbury Mayoral Forum - which represents the local councils - will meet on May 30 to complete its review of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) zone committees and make recommendations on their replacements. But Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon expressed his support for the existing Waimakariri Zone Committee. ''I appreciate the zone committee structure hasn't worked in some areas, but in my observation it has worked well here. ''If it is not broken it doesn't need to be completely fixed.'' The CWMS came into force in 2009, leading to the formation of 10 zone committees, which are a partnership between ECan, local councils and rūnanga. The zone committees, which have up to seven community representatives, are due to be disestablished in June. Under the proposed new model, local leadership groups comprising council and rūnanga representatives, will replace the zone committees. It will be up to each local leadership group to determine its final makeup, including any community involvement. But Mr Gordon said he plans to consult with Waimakariri Zone Committee chairperson Carolyne Latham and the council's representative Tim Fulton, before the council makes its decision. ''I do have an open mind, but I don't want to see the things we have worked for being lost in the new structure.'' Mr Gordon paid tribute to former Waimakariri Zone Committee chairperson Michael Blackwell, who passed away in 2023. It was Mr Blackwell's passion which led to the council buying farmland on Lineside Road to restore as wetland. ''I remember the phone call from Michael calling for us to do the right thing. ''It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I personally think there is some tremendous opportunities for the future.'' Environment Canterbury councillors Claire McKay and Grant Edge were on the first Waimakariri Zone Committee back in 2010, with Cr McKay returning to serve as ECan's representative. She said the committee's community engagement had encouraged more property owners to engage in the planning process. ''This must not be the end of working together in a collaborative approach.'' Cr Edge has since become ECan's representative on the Kaikōura Zone Committee, which has made it clear ''they don't want to change either''. Ms Latham said the zone committee led the community engagement for the Zone Implementation Plan Addendum over several years, which led to ECan's Plan Change 7. Plan Change 7 established rules for freshwater protection and nutrient management and set guidelines for resource use. ''In the last 10 years there has been a significant shift in awareness of climate change and our impact, particularly in the rural sector and the committee had an impact on that,'' Ms Latham said.
