Latest news with #ECan
1News
7 hours ago
- 1News
Dogs allowed on Canterbury buses – but is it workable?
A last-minute rule change to allow small dogs on buses has left Environment Canterbury staff scrambling to make workable. Councillors adopted the Canterbury Regional Transport Plan 2025/35 at a council meeting on Wednesday after a late amendment from councillor David East to allow passengers to take a small dog on the bus with a lead and a muzzle. East's motion passed by 8-7, and followed an earlier amendment proposed by councillor Joe Davies, which would have allowed small dogs to travel in their owner's lap, which lost 9-6. This was despite staff advice that dogs are not permitted in the Christchurch bus interchange, administered by the Christchurch City Council, unless they are in a secure carrier. It could mean passengers are able to board a bus with their dog but are unable to get off with their dog at the interchange. ADVERTISEMENT Davies has been lobbying for pets on buses for the last two years, following lobbying by resident JJ Smith. He said the plan is a good example of how policy takes time. "This is about dogs on buses. When people think about taking a pet on the bus, a dog is different because people take them to the park or to visit people. "Dogs are companions in ways that cats and guinea pigs aren't." Environment Canterbury has adopted the Canterbury Regional Transport Plan 2025/35. (Source: David Hill / North Canterbury News) But councillor Claire McKay said she felt allowing dogs was a risk to public safety, as "we can never be certain what a dog is going to do". Environment Canterbury (ECan) staff have been working on the regional transport plan since 2021 with the Canterbury Regional Transport Committee, which comprised the region's mayors and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, and the Greater Christchurch Partnership Committee. ADVERTISEMENT The proposed plan had a clause allowing pets to travel on buses, as long as they were in a secure carrier. Councillor Grant Edge, who chaired the Greater Christchurch Partnership Committee's hearing panel, said he was disappointed to see the amendment pass. "It is incredibly naive for us not to have simply adopted the plan. "As staff have told us, leashing and muzzling has issues with the Christchurch City Council's rules and we have no definition of a small dog." Chairperson Craig Pauling questioned how bus drivers would "determine what is a small dog?" There was still work to be one before dogs could ride on buses. ECan staff would now engage with the Christchurch City Council, bus drivers and other stakeholders to come up with a revised code of conduct for pets on buses to present to a future council meeting. The Greater Christchurch Partnership Committee comprised the Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri councils, ECan, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and government agencies. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Otago Daily Times
21 hours ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Dogs allowed on Canterbury buses - but is it workable?
A last-minute rule change to allow small dogs on buses has left Environment Canterbury staff scrambling to make it workable. Councillors adopted the Canterbury Regional Transport Plan 2025/35 at a council meeting yesterday after a late amendment from councillor David East to allow passengers to take a small dog on the bus with a lead and a muzzle. Cr East's motion passed by 8-7, and followed an earlier amendment proposed by Cr Joe Davies, which would have allowed small dogs to travel in their owner's lap, which lost 9-6. This was despite staff advice that dogs were not permitted in the Christchurch bus interchange, administered by the Christchurch City Council, unless they are in a secure carrier. It could mean passengers are able to board a bus with their dog, but are unable to get off with their canine at the interchange. Cr Davies has been lobbying for pets on buses for the last two years, following lobbying by resident JJ Smith. The plan was a good example of how policy takes time, he said. ''This is about dogs on buses. When people think about taking a pet on the bus, a dog is different because people take them to the park or to visit people. ''Dogs are companions in ways that cats and guinea pigs aren't.'' But Cr Claire McKay said she felt allowing dogs was a risk to public safety as ''we can never be certain what a dog is going to do''. ECan staff have been working on the regional transport plan since 2021 with the Canterbury Regional Transport Committee, which comprises the region's mayors, the NZ Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi and the Greater Christchurch Partnership Committee. The proposed plan had a clause allowing pets to travel on buses, as long as they were in a secure carrier. Cr Grant Edge, who chaired the Greater Christchurch Partnership Committee's hearing panel, said he was disappointed to see the amendment pass. ''It is incredibly naive for us not to have simply adopted the plan. ''As staff have told us, leashing and muzzling has issues with the Christchurch City Council's rules and we have no definition of a small dog.'' Chairman Craig Pauling questioned how bus drivers will ''determine what is a small dog?'' There is still work to do before dogs can ride on buses. ECan staff will now engage with the Christchurch City Council, bus drivers and other stakeholders to come up with a revised code of conduct for pets on buses to present to a future council meeting. The Greater Christchurch Partnership Committee comprises the Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri councils, ECan, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and government agencies. - By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter • LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Calls For Government To Work With Councils On RMA Reform
Canterbury's regional council has called on the Government to work more closely with councils as it overhauls the Resource Management Act (RMA). Environment Canterbury (ECan) approved a submission on the national direction under the RMA at a council meeting on Wednesday, July 23, where it supported many of the proposed changes. In moving the motion to approve the submission, North Canterbury councillor Grant Edge called on central Government to work more closely with local and regional government. The Government has sought feedback on proposals to address infrastructure and development, the primary sector, and freshwater, with submissions closing on July 27. Cr Edge said there needed to be more collaboration with communities, while funding and financial issues needed to be resolved. The national direction has some useful tools, including spatial planning which councils are already using, Cr Edge said. ''Spatial planning tools are potentially a powerful mechanism for us in Canterbury and nationally to resolve some of these issues.'' Councils have used spatial plans, such as the Greater Christchurch spatial plan, to identify how urban areas can grow by opening up land for housing, addressing public transport needs, climate change and resolving historical issues such as kāinga nohoanga development. While he backed the submission, deputy chairperson Deon Swiggs said stopping councils from addressing their own planning needs could lead to ''unintended consequences''. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has put a stop to councils working on District and Regional Plans and regional policy statements until the new RMA legislation takes effect, which is expected to be in 2027. ECan voted in November to put its regional policy statement on hold until it had more certainty around Government reform. Dr Swiggs said there were provisions in the draft regional policy statement to address areas not covered in national guidelines and reduce the risk of untended consequences. ''But it looks like we won't be able to address that until 2027 and even then, we may be limited in our scope.'' Ngāi Tahu councillor Tutehounuku Korako said while he welcomed the national statement of Papakāinga housing, the Government needed to be mindful that Māori were facing worse housing outcomes than non-Māori. ''To enable intensification of Mana Whenua, a co-ordinated approach is about whenua governance, planning framework adaptation, infrastructure enablement, cultural integration and access to funding and expertise. ''It ultimately needs to support the reconnection of whānau to whenua (land). The submission had overwhelming support from councillors, with just Cr David East abstaining.
1News
23-07-2025
- General
- 1News
Why this town's lake is causing a stink
It might sound idyllic to live beside a lake, but for Pegasus residents, it is anything but. The Pegasus Residents' Group wants answers on the fate of Pegasus Lake, due to ongoing issues with toxic algae. Environment Canterbury (ECan) issued an abatement notice to the developer, Templeton Pegasus Ltd, last month about the state of the artificial lake in the Canterbury town. It followed the latest public health warning for toxic algae, which was issued in December. Residents' group chairperson Matt James said frustration was growing among residents, who continued to face uncertainty. ADVERTISEMENT ''We have a good relationship with Templeton Group, which has given us a good insight into the problem. ''For a manufactured lake, it is very deep and the water is very stale. ''It is like a garden pond. It is fed by aquifers, but the flows aren't fast enough to flush it out, which has causes the lake to layer.'' The artificial lake was constructed by the original developer, Infinity Group, between 2008 and 2010, with Todd Property Group taking over the development in late 2012. It is now owned by Templeton Pegasus Ltd, a subsidiary of Templeton Group. Templeton Pegasus Ltd has been contacted for comment. Pegasus Lake is a popular spot for recreational activities. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting) ADVERTISEMENT James said Templeton Pegasus Ltd presented residents with a plan last year, but he believed no progress has been made since. ''The community hasn't heard back from Templeton for sometime and there's a lot of frustration and at times anger. ''My personal suspicion is it will end up with the council (Waimakariri District Council) having to deal with.'' Fellow residents' group committee members Colin Brownlee and Peter Johnston said the lake had been a drawcard in attracting residents to move to Pegasus. Algal bloom was first reported in February 2015, with the lake closed to recreational use for the first time. Two months later, ECan found the lake weeds had been sprayed with Diquat herbicide. An infringement notice was issued to Todd Property Group in 2020, with the sub-division subsequently sold to Templeton Group. ADVERTISEMENT An ECan spokesperson said Templeton Pegasus Ltd holds four resource consents and is in breach of conditions in two of those consents. ''The lake is prone to blooms of potentially toxic algae ('blue-green algae') over the summer period.'' Templeton Pegasus Ltd has since issued a registration of interest via its consultancy firm WSP last month to investigate options to remediate the lake. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Otago Daily Times
23-07-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Why this town's lake is causing a stink
It might sound idyllic to live beside a lake, but for the residents of this Canterbury town it is anything but. The Pegasus Residents' Group wants answers on the fate of Pegasus Lake, due to ongoing issues with toxic algae. Environment Canterbury (ECan) issued an abatement notice to the developer, Templeton Pegasus Ltd, last month about the state of the artificial lake in the Canterbury town. It followed the latest public health warning for toxic algae, which was issued in December. Residents' group chairperson Matt James said frustration is growing among residents, who continue to face uncertainty. ''We have a good relationship with Templeton Group, which has given us a good insight into the problem. ''For a manufactured lake it is very deep and the water is very stale. ''It is like a garden pond. It is fed by aquifers, but the flows aren't fast enough to flush it out, which has causes the lake to layer.'' The artificial lake was constructed by the original developer, Infinity Group, between 2008 and 2010, with Todd Property Group taking over the development in late 2012. It is now owned by Templeton Pegasus Ltd, a subsidiary of Templeton Group. Templeton Pegasus Ltd has been contacted for comment. Pegasus Lake is a popular spot for recreational activities. Photo: North Canterbury News Mr James said Templeton Pegasus Ltd presented residents with a plan last year, but he believes no progress has been made since. ''The community hasn't heard back from Templeton for sometime and there's a lot of frustration and at times anger. ''My personal suspicion is it will end up with the council (Waimakariri District Council) having to deal with.'' Fellow residents' group committee members Colin Brownlee and Peter Johnston said the lake had been a drawcard in attracting residents to move to Pegasus. Algal bloom was first reported in February 2015, with the lake closed to recreational use for the first time. Two months later ECan found the lake weeds had been sprayed with Diquat herbicide. An infringement notice was issued to Todd Property Group in 2020, with the sub-division subsequently sold to Templeton Group. An ECan spokesperson said Templeton Pegasus Ltd holds four resource consents and is in breach of conditions in two of those consents. ''The lake is prone to blooms of potentially toxic algae ('blue-green algae') over the summer period.'' Templeton Pegasus Ltd has since issued a registration of interest via its consultancy firm WSP last month to investigate options to remediate the lake. By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
