Waimakariri Zone Committee calling for new member

The Canterbury Water Waimakariri Zone Committee is looking to appoint a new member to its committee.

A vacancy has become available due to the withdrawal of committee member Bill Wilson for personal reasons.

Waimakariri Zone Committee Deputy Chair Claire McKay said the committee is looking for someone who wants to make a positive difference to water management in the zone.

“Since forming in mid-2010 we have attended numerous committee meetings, field-trips and community engagement meetings to come up-to-speed with the major issues facing water management in our zone.

“The outcome of these meetings has been the development of a Zone Implementation Programme (ZIP) that provides recommendations to councils and other organisations on how locals believe water should be managed.

“Earlier this year our ZIP was endorsed by councils as the basis for the design and realignment of work programmes, for drafting regional plan provisions and for preparation of a draft Long Term Plan.

“The committee’s main focus is now on working with locals, councils, and other organisations to implementing these recommendations for water management.  This is an exciting time for us as we look to work with collaboratively to deliver the community’s vision for water management,” she said.

Each of the ten Canterbury Water zone committees is charged with developing strategies, tactics and activities (ZIPs) to give effect to the fundamental principles and targets outlined in the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS).

These targets include ecosystem health/biodiversity (including water quality), drinking water, water-use efficiency, irrigated land area, recreational and amenity opportunities, natural character of braided rivers, kaitiakitanga and regional/national economy.

Environment Canterbury has developed a project schedule outlining how it will implement the Land Use and Water Quality and Biodiversity Components of the Waimakariri ZIP in year one (April 2012/13).

Claire Mckay said the committee is specifically looking for someone who has a passion for the Waimakariri region and a real interest in working collaboratively to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to join the committee.

“We are particularly looking for people who have experience working collaboratively, engaging with communities, and are competent at dealing with technical and often complex issues.

“They should also understand the need to balance the competing demands for water, and it is preferable they live in the zone, or have a significant relationship with it.

“We are sure there will be many people in the region who share the same passion as us and wish to put their names forward,” she said.

The successful zone committee applicants will need to be available to attend monthly meetings, as well as community engagement meetings as required.

Expression of interest forms are downloadable from www.ecan.govt./canterburywater and can be sent to bronwyn.hardaker@ecan.govt.nz along with a CV by Friday, 13 July, 2012.

The Waimakariri Zone Committee operates as a joint committee of Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council.  The Waimakariri Zone includes the Ashley River catchment and shares the Waimakariri catchment below the gorge with the Selwyn- Waihora and Christchurch-West Melton zones. It includes Kaiapoi, Rangiora and Oxford.