Regional Water Plan, consent timeframes highlights of quarterly report to Govt
Report to Ministers notes strong consent timeframes performance Environment Canterbury, Natural Resources Regional Plan decisions notified.
Central Government has received the first quarterly report from Environment Canterbury commissioners on the outcomes and goals for the organisation agreed to with Ministers Nick Smith and Rodney Hide earlier this year.
The highlights for the quarter to the end of September include:
- Four of the 10 Canterbury Water Management Strategy’s zone committees have been established, as well as the regional committee. Two other zone committees are well advanced in the appointment process.
- Year one projects for the Canterbury Water Management Strategy’s Immediate Steps Biodiversity programme have been identified for all zones apart from Kaikoura and Upper Waitaki.
- Natural Resources Regional Plan decisions to be notified October 23.
- Resource consent application processing timeframe compliance in the mid to high 90% area.
- Draft Regional Policy Statement, the overarching planning document for the region, released for comment September with formal submissions to come early 2011.
- Hurunui Water Conservation Order submission period closed.
In addition, a special report on the regional council’s earthquake response and recovery programmes was included.
Environment Canterbury chief executive Dr Bryan Jenkins said the report reflected the hard work undertaken by staff and their dedication to Canterbury region’s sustainability. This was particularly evident given the pressures created by the September 4 earthquake and need for prioritising of infrastructure work in its wake.
“We have also continued to increase our networking and collaborative work with many different groups of people across the environmental, farming, business and recreational sectors and Ngāi Tahu. “
The report is on line at: http://ecan.govt.nz/