Newsletter - 1 March 2009
Welcome to the latest update on the Canterbury Water Management Strategy, an eighteen-month programme of stakeholder meetings, submissions and public consultation to develop a community-led strategy for management of the region's water resources.
In this issue we provide an update on current status of the programme and report on the next stages of development including details of the stakeholder workshops being held around the region in March and April.
A Message from the Chairman
The programme is moving into its most intensive stages of development involving another round of stakeholder workshops followed by a major public consultation.
While it will never be possible to come up with a solution that 100 per cent satisfies everybody, the level of discussion and debate to date, together with the stakeholder and public input still to come, gives me confidence that we will end up with a good outcome for the people of Canterbury.
At our recent two-day workshop the Steering Group discussed and agreed possible strategic approaches for stakeholders to review at a series of facilitated workshops in March/April. Feedback received from stakeholders and the wider public during the first phase of consultation in 2008 has informed development of these options.
Over the two days there was much healthy discussion in working through the many diverse and important issues. At the forefront of debate was the need to come up with a solution that serves not only the best interests of the Canterbury region but ultimately the interests of all New Zealanders.
It is critical to the long-term success of the strategy that we consult extensively with key stakeholders and the wider Canterbury community to ensure we canvas the widest possible range of viewpoints. We strongly encourage everybody to engage in the process from now on as this will be the final and most vital opportunity for those with an interest in the future of water to have their say.
I am confident that we have come up with the right mix of strategic approaches for consideration by stakeholders and the public, any one of which could provide a viable outcome for the people of Canterbury. I am looking forward to receiving your feedback.
Bede O'Malley
Mayor, Ashburton District
Chairman of the Steering Group
Stakeholder meetings
Stakeholder meetings will be held in Twizel, Timaru, Ashburton, Darfield, Christchurch and Culverden from the middle of March.
In each area two meetings will be held on consecutive weeks to ensure that people have sufficient time to consider the water management options that will be presented, discuss issues and provide informed feedback. You are urged to attend both meetings in your area, in order to have the greatest possible say.
Following these meetings a document will be produced that will form the basis of wider public consultation.
Meeting dates and venues
Twizel
Thursday 2nd April
Thursday 9th April
Venue: Twizel Events Centre
Timaru
Wednesday 1st April
Wednesday 8th April
Venue: Greyway Lounge, Pharlap Raceway
Ashburton
Tuesday 31st March
Tuesday 7th April
Venue: Ashburton College Library, Walnut Ave
Darfield
Tuesday 17th March
Tuesday 24th March
Venue: Darfield Recreation Centre
Christchurch
Wednesday 18th March
Wednesday 25th March
Venue: Baptist Church, Cnr Oxford Tce & Madras St
Culverden
Thursday 19th March
Thursday 26th March
Venue: Amuri School Community Centre
To find out more about the Canterbury Water Management Strategy or to register attendance at the stakeholder workshops, go to www.canterburywater.org.nz
Keep an eye on the website
Over the coming busy months we will regularly refresh the website www.canterburywater.org.nz to keep you up to date with what is happening and how you can be involved.
Information about the stakeholder workshops is already on the site. Following the workshops we will develop an options paper that will form the basis of the public consultation. This paper will be available to the public from the end of April and people will have six weeks to give their feedback and to make submissions.