WRT INITIATIVES WITH LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
The case for moratorium presented to ECan council 18 Dec 2007
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Background to WRT initiatives to implement a moratorium:
Letter to Barry Carbon, chief executive, Ministry for the Environment, and Marian Hobbs, Minister for the Environment, 8 October, 2002
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Presentation on case for a moratorium to a Christchurch public meeting 9 Dec 2005, following presentation to Ecan Council, 7 Dec 2005.
Letter to David Benson-Pope, Minister for the Environment, requesting call-in of consent applications for Central Plains Water 9 June 2006
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Letter requesting a review of ECan to Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, 14 June 2006
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Presentation to National Party Bluegreens conference, October 2006
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Submission to Selwyn District Council concerning Central Plains Water, January 2007
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Letter to David Benson-Pope, Minister for the Environment, concerning Central Plains Water 16 May 2007
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Presentation to Chistchurch City Council concerning Central Plains Water, 5 June 2007
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These initiatives have so far resulted in no decisive action by government. Flaws in the Resource Management Act may well see the huge Central Plains Water scheme approved, with disasterous outcomes for some groundwaters and lowland streams.
Central government has so far indicated a reluctance to intervene at the regional level.
The Commissioner for the Environment has agreed to review management of water in Canterbury, but the results of such a review will not inform decisions on Central Plains Water with consent hearings due to start February 2008.
WRT is concerned to strengthen political motivation to intervene by enhancing public awareness of the issues. We see this a last resort because such a campaign would further divide the community.
SOME WRT CONSENT SUBMISSIONS
The major consents and other submissions the Trust has made include the following :-
Project Aqua,
Central Plains Water,
Lynton Dairy.
Combined Consents in the following Groundwater Zones:-
Canterbury Chickens Discharge quality,
Fonterra (effects on water quality from whey discharge to land),
Smiths developments stormwater consents,
Airport discharge quality,
Kakahu Irrigation scheme,
Ashburton stockwater races ,
The Meridian Tunnel and Hunter Downs Irrigation Scheme
Submissions on the following Plans
The Proposed Natural Resources Regional Plan,
Ecan Long term Council Community Plans.
Advisory groups the Trust is involved with;
The Canterbury Strategic Water Study
The Selwyn water Allocation Advisory Group.
The Restorative Programme for lowland Streams Advisory Group.
The ECan Christchurch Area Committee;
The South Canterbury Water Enhancement Group.
The Ministerial Advisory Group and the Technical Advisory group for the governments' Sustainable Water Programme of Action
Also attending revised minimum flow regimes for the Hurunui, Waipara, Lake Ellesmere spring fed creeks and rivers, Ashburton and Pareora Rivers.