The Environment Canterbury Council has voted 12-2 to adopt an amendment, for consultation, to its Annual Plan to provide $3.3M in funding for the Canterbury Water Management Strategy for the 2010/11 year.
“There is strong support from the Council and from the community for Environment Canterbury to continue its partnership relationship and leadership role in integrated water management in Canterbury,” said chair Alec Neill.
The $3.3M in funding will be raised via a targeted rate on all Environment Canterbury ratepayers, on behalf of all Canterbury councils. The 2010/11 Annual Plan is an update of Environment Canterbury’s 2009-2019 Long Term Council Community Plan, and the Canterbury Water Management Strategy funding is included for the first time as an amendment to that plan. Council endorsed the Canterbury Water Management Strategy in November 2009.
“Implementation of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy relies on adequate funding and resourcing and Environment Canterbury has provided this over the past eight years as it has facilitated development of an integrated approach to water management in Canterbury.
“Without this commitment to ongoing funding from Environment Canterbury implementation of the Strategy would not be able to continue.”
In addition to the $3.3M in funding, Environment Canterbury’s technical staff will continue to support implementation of the Strategy by providing expert advice and ongoing access to information and other resources.
“The Canterbury Water Management Strategy represents a balanced and integrated approach to address the issues relating to water infrastructure, economic development, water efficiency and use, as well as environmental restoration and improvement, and will deliver significant benefits to Canterbury communities.
“It represents a broad collaborative approach which has involved local, regional and central government, Ngai Tahu, as well as key water stakeholders.
“Community members have also taken an active interest in the development of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy with around 2000 public submissions during public consultation in 2008 and 2009.
“Environment Canterbury also welcomes the ongoing support for the Canterbury Water Management Strategy from the Mayoral Forum – which this week gave the green light to forming the regional and zone committees which will be the backbone of the strategy,” said Cr Neill.
The ten Canterbury territorial authorities are considering a combined contribution of around $300,000 to partly fund the regional and zone committees.
Funding proposal
The proposed funding of $3.3M from Environment Canterbury for the 2010/11 financial year will be used to:
• Establish the water executive – a small team of technical staff which will:
o Set-up regional and zone water management committees.
o Provide support and guidance for the preparation of implementation programmes by water management committees.
o Manage implementation programmes on a day-to-day basis.
o Implement the Immediate Steps ecosystem restoration programme.
• Establish regional and zone water management committees, which will work on:
o Environmental targets and measures.
o Environmental restoration.
o Water requirements for economic development.
o Land-use practices.
o Water infrastructure requirements.
o Customary use.
o Recreational and amenity provision.
o Commercial activity and use.
• Immediate Steps (ecosystem restoration programme):
o There is a need for immediate and significant action to halt the gradual overall decline of ecosystems and prevent the rapid decline in some habitats and species in Canterbury.
o Restoration and protection of biodiversity will become a pre-requisite of any new or reconfigured development, but it will take time before these programmes come into effect.
• Proposal for funding Immediate Steps: the CWMS considered four options over five years:
o $2M ($400,000 per year)
o $5M ($1M per year)
o $10M ($2M per year) – recommended
o $20M ($4M per year)
• This funding is a mix of the Environment Canterbury targeted rate, user contributions, and other funding sources.
For more information: Environment Canterbury Chairman Alec Neill, 027 440-3071.