Lower Waitaki Zone Committee reaches major milestone

The Canterbury Water Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee has released its draft Zone Implementation Programme (ZIP) for public feedback.

The draft ZIP recommends actions, responsibilities and time-frames for activities to help achieve the principles, targets and goals set out in the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS).

The Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee’s draft ZIP is the fifth to be made available for public feedback, with Hurunui-Waiau’s final ZIP having been submitted to councils in late August.

Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee Chair Robin Murphy says the completion of the draft ZIP is the culmination of months of hard work by the zone committee.

“The Lower Waitaki draft ZIP has been developed following numerous committee meetings and extensive stakeholder and community engagement to gather information about the region’s water resource.

“The recommendations made in the draft programme of work are designed to enable present and future generations the greatest environmental, cultural, social and economic benefits from the region’s water.

“We now want to hear what local people like and don’t like about the recommendations and whether there are other things they think should be included,” he said.

In late September public meetings were held across the zone to discuss water management priorities. The feedback from the meetings helped guide the committee’s draft ZIP for water management.

Further public meetings will be held in late October to give people a chance to have a say on the draft ZIP.

The Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Canterbury draft ZIP includes recommendations on five key priority areas; biodiversity, Waitaki Allocation Plan, Hakataramea, Wainono Lagoon, and drinking water, flows, lowland streams and water quality.

Robin Murphy says how water is allocated and used is crucial to the future of the region so people should feel compelled to have their say.

“The underlying philosophy of the CWMS is that local communities should be making decisions on local water management. The committee’s draft ZIP brings together our recommendations on how to deliver these goals.

“We have worked with our community and stakeholders to develop this programme of work and we know it may not be the ideal outcome for every individual, group, or even zone committee member so we are sure people will want to provide their feedback on our recommendations,” he said.

The Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Canterbury ZIP is the first attempt by the zone committee to reach a consensus on water management for the zone and identify the first steps that need to be taken.

It contains around 60 recommendations to councils and stakeholders.

Community members will have until 25 November to provide their feedback on the Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Canterbury draft ZIP.

This can be done from 25 November online here, or by collecting a copy of the draft ZIP from Environment Canterbury (Ellesmere Centre, 24 Edward Street, Lincoln), Waimate District Council or Waitaki District Council, or by attending one of the public meetings.

Community Engagement meeting details