People with an interest in water management in Canterbury are being urged to put their names forward, or nominate someone else, for the Regional Water Management Committee of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.

“We are seeking people from a range of interests to ensure the composition of the Regional Committee has collective experience and expertise in a range of areas,” said Bede O’Malley, Chair of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy Steering Group and a member of the Mayoral Forum.

These areas include fisheries, energy and electricity, indigenous biodiversity, primary production/agriculture, recreation, as well as regional development including tourism.

Committee members will need to have the ability and experience to work collaboratively, as well as deal with complex technical and social issues.

“People on the committee will also need to have demonstrated leadership skills,” said Bede O’Malley.

The Regional Water Management Committee will address issues requiring a regional approach and that cannot be effectively addressed at the zone level.

It will develop strategies, tactics and activities – in a Regional Implementation Programme – to give effect to the Strategy’s fundamental principles and targets for Canterbury.

“The Regional Committee and the zone committees will become the primary conduit for community discussion and development of solutions to water issues in Canterbury, as envisaged in the Canterbury Water Management Strategy,” said Bede O’Malley.

The committee, which is a committee of Environment Canterbury, will also include representatives of Canterbury district councils, Christchurch City Council, Ngai Tahu, runanga, the zone water committees, as well as the six community appointees.

The Committee will meet as frequently as fortnightly during some of its first year of operation.  Meeting times will be agreed between members of the committee but applicants must be available for day or evening meetings with reasonable notice.

Community members on the committee will be paid an honorarium ($2000 for a committee member, $3000 for the deputy chair, $5000 for the chair) as well as reasonable travelling expenses.

Application details:

Applications must be on the Expression of Interest form downloadable from www.canterburywater.org.nz  and include the applicant’s curriculum vitae.
Applications close on Friday 2 July 2010.
Applications should be submitted via email to Regional@canterburywater.org.nz
 
For more information: Barbara Nicholas, Canterbury Water Zone Facilitator, Barbara.Nicholas@Canterburywater.org.nz, Phone 027 500-1832