Opposition to Act which has removed regional democracy, water strategy recommendation

Council records its strong opposition to Act which has removed regional democracy in Canterbury and recommends handing Canterbury Water Management Strategy funding back to local territorial councils.

At today’s Environment Canterbury meeting, the second last for this council, councillors recorded their strong opposition to the recent Government legislation which has removed them as an elected body.

They also recommended that Government-appointed council chair designate Dame Margaret Bazley review the funding of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy with a view to local territorial councils raising the money to fund it themselves.

Council resolution as passed:
Moved by Cr Eugenie Sage, seconded by Cr Jane Demeter:

1. That the Council record its strong opposition to the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Act for the following reasons:

1. ratepayers will be expected to contribute $78 million in regional rates in the 2010/11 year with no democratic representation.
2. the absence of any public consultation on the legislation.
3. the absence of evidence in the Creech Review report of shortcomings in the Council’s execution of its statutory functions which justify appointing commissioners in portfolio areas other than water – namely air quality, coastal environment, corporate and democratic process, emergency management, energy, hazards, land management, navigation safety, pests and biodiversity, public passenger transport, regional land transport, waste, hazardous substances and contaminated sites.
4. the undermining of the collaborative basis for the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) through arbitrary changes to the provisions for water conservation orders in Canterbury and the removal of elected regional representation from CWMS regional and zonal committees.
5. the lack of previous Government assistance for water management in Canterbury (other than contributing to the preparation of the CWMS) despite Environment Canterbury’s requests for legislative tools such as catchment specific moratoria that the Environment Canterbury Act now provides to commissioners.
6. That Council recommends that chair designate Dame Margaret Bazley critically reviews the need to allocate $4.286 million (including GST) in the draft Annual Plan for 2010/11 for completion and implementation of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy given the undermining of its collaborative process. The dominant position which territorial authorities now have in any implementation of the CWMS means it is more appropriately funded through their Annual Plans.

Crs Sir Kerry Burke and Jo Kane made valedictory speeches as they will not be present for next week’s final council meeting when the other councillors will speak for the final time at a regional council meeting.