The Upper Waitaki Zone Committee finalised its Zone Implementation Programme (ZIP) in April.

The 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 ZIP contains more than 50 recommendations to the Mackenzie and Waitaki district councils, Environment Canterbury, and other stakeholders.

The recommendations cover five key areas:

• Water nutrient and effluent management;
• Waitaki Catchment Water Allocation Regional Plan including environmental limits and development;
• Braided Rivers;
• Biodiversity;
• Prosperity.

In May the final ZIP was presented to councils and endorsed as the basis for the design and realignment of council work and planning programmes for freshwater.

Read the ZIP (pdf 678 kB).

Draft ZIP

In November 2011 the committee held a series of public meetings to give community members a chance to provide their feedback on water management priority areas for the zone.

The feedback from meetings, held in Tekapo, Twizel and Omarama, helped shape the draft ZIP. Community members had until 23 March 2012 to provide their feedback on the draft ZIP.

This could be done online or by attending one of the public meetings in Tekapo, Twizel or Omarama.

Read the acknowledgment letter (512 kB)

Read the feedback on the draft ZIP.