Latest news with #CanterburyMayoralForum
Scoop
5 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Water Committee Signs Off As Decision Looms On Replacement
The Ashburton Water Zone Committee signed off at their final meeting on Tuesday. Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown told the committee that the Canterbury Mayoral Forum will be deciding on the future model on Friday at its meeting in Kaikōura. Ten zone committees were launched, joint committees between Environment Canterbury and district councils, in 2010 to implement the Canterbury Water Management Strategy. The Mayoral Forum launched a review of the zone committees in 2023 to consider how best to include local leadership in freshwater decision-making. The new proposed model is for a local leadership group that will consist of ECan, district council, and Rūnanga representatives. Brown said he will be pushing the Ashburton District to retain a stand-alone group under the new structure, and for community representatives, from a local advisory group, to have a seat at the table. 'I can't see any reason why we won't get what we want in Ashburton.' The zone committee's final meeting had chairperson Bill Thomas, who joined the committee in 2016, have the final say. He covered the success, challenges, 'regulations, plan changes and solutions to local issues' the committee has tackled over the years and what the next steps are in the process towards a new model. Thomas thanked the committee members and the community members in attendance for their support and hoped the community voice the zone committee had championed wouldn't be lost in the new model. He hopes the proposed Mid Canterbury Advisory Group model will be a success. Committee member Angela Cushnie provided an update on the progress of forming the group to provide 'the voice of the local community to the Canterbury Mayoral Forum and Canterbury water management strategy in the development, implementation, and reporting' on regional and national policies. During the meeting, the committee received updates from various catchment and landcare groups. Hekeao Hinds Lowlands Catchment Group facilitator Phil Everest thanked the zone committee for their support over the years helping community-led environmental projects get off the ground. 'I think you can see clearly just what a little bit of seed funding can do to actually create good science and good work in our community that would have never have got off the ground without your support,' Everest said. The meeting also included a presentation from Ashburton Forks Catchment Group's Jono Allen, the son of Chris Allen who had served on the committee since 2014 until his death in a farm accident in December. Thomas said a plaque recognising Chris Allen's contribution to the community was being organised to be placed in the Forks catchment area near his family farm.
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.
