Focus on Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere at symposium

The third Living lake symposium discussing the health and well-being of Te Waihora / Lake Ellesmere and its catchment will be held at Lincoln University over 15-16th and a field trip on the 19th of November.

The symposium will include expert presentations on a variety of topics including land use, fisheries, water quantity and quality, and restoration initiatives underway around the catchment.

Ken Hughey, Professor of Environmental Management at Lincoln University and a founding Trustee of WET (Waihora Ellesmere Trust) said the symposium is opportune for a number of reasons.

“It is now common knowledge that Te Waihora / Lake Ellesmere is one of New Zealand’s most polluted lakes. The symposium ties in perfectly with a number of other initiatives that help address the plight of the lake.

“The Selwyn-Waihora Zone Implementation Programme has been released for public comment, the Land Use and Water Quality project is progressing, and the symposium’s timing links well with the application to change the Ellesmere/Te Waihora Water Conservation Order and the lake opening consent discussions.

“Furthermore, with major water and land use changes in the area coming up, it is timely to link these to managing the long term future of Te Waihora-Lake Ellesmere.

“All-in-all the conference provides a perfect opportunity to talk about how we can tie the various work-streams together to ensure we look after one of New Zealand’s most precious lakes,” he said.

At the symposium attendees will hear from Professor Jenny Webster-Brown, Director of the Wateways Centre for Freshwater Management about recent and current research at University of Canterbury and Lincoln University. A number of NIWA presenters will then discuss their research in the Selwyn/Waikirikiri catchment, followed by a presentation about the roles and responsibilities of landowners.

Day two will feature a keynote address from Professor David Hamilton of Waikato University, who will share insights from the North Island and elsewhere. Environment Canterbury Commissioner Peter Skelton will then discuss how the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) fits within the context of the Resource Management Act, Local Government Act, as well as policy statements and plans.

The Land Use and Water Quality project underway in the Hurunui-Waiau zone and what can be learned for the Selwyn-Waihora catchment will also be covered.

The afternoon session (from 2pm) is free and open to the public. It will begin with an overview of the principles and concepts of the CWMS and emerging trends as the zone committees release their zone implementation programmes (ZIPs).

The Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee will invite attendees to hear more about its recently released Selwyn-Waihora draft ZIP and give them an opportunity to provide their own feedback. The draft Selwyn-Waihora ZIP can also be downloaded at www.ecan.govt.nz/canterburywater , along with feedback forms.

The afternoon session on day two is free to the public but attendees are asked to register at www.wet.org.nz . The fee for attending Day One and Two (15 and 16 November) of the symposium is $50 ($30 for WET members). There is also a field trip ($10 and $5 for members) on Saturday 19 November to look at sites of interest in the catchment and hear from experts about the challenges and projects underway.