Draft Long Term Plan 2012-2022 - Hurunui District Council

Hurunui Community Long Term Plan 2012 - 2022to develop recommendations on water management in asdescribed in the Zone Implementation Programme (ZIP). Seea summary of the ZIP appended to this Plan. A full copy isavailable on our Council website.The Zone Committee and this ZIP are part of implementingthe Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) inthe Hurunui Waiau Zone. The CWMS sets as its first orderpriorities: environment, customary use, community suppliesand stock water; with second order priorities as irrigation,renewable electricity generation, recreation and amenity. TheZone Committee recognizes that clean drinking water, land use,water quality and quantity, environmental flows and allocationfor the rivers, biodiversity protection and enhancement,irrigation, hydro power development and water storage options,and the principles of kaitiakitanga are all (intimately) interrelatedand must be considered as a whole rather than in isolation. TheZIP recommends actions and approaches for collaborativeand integrated water management solutions to achieve theCWMS vision, “to enable present and future generations togain the greatest economic, environmental, recreational andcultural benefits from our water resources”. In accordancewith the CWMS, the Zone Committee has arrived at itsrecommendations through consensus.Drinking Water QualityUnder this Strategy, we fully acknowledge that our focus onproductive development must be matched with a similarenergy and commitment to drinking water standards. Seethe ‘Key Issues’ and ‘Water Supply’ sections of this plan for acomprehensive explanation of our intentions to address thisissue across the Hurunui district.Land and Water Quality Use ResearchCouncil will continue to support initiatives, with EnterpriseNorth Canterbury and Environment Canterbury, and otherappropriate agencies, to position Hurunui at the forefront ofland use and water quality research programmes, projects andpilots in the interests of Hurunui and all rural New Zealand. Webelieve Hurunui is well placed to pursue this lead role, especiallygiven our dry east coast climate and our strong relationshipswith entrepreneurial landowners and agencies. We believe thatthis is a critically important component of our overall strategicand comprehensive approach, particularly to demonstrate thatthe Hurunui Water Management Strategy in relation to storageand irrigation will require landowners to commit to bestindustry practise and the uptake of available science.Environmental, Social andRecreational InterestsThe environmental, social and recreational values of ourrivers and lakes are critical to the Hurunui. This point cannotbe overemphasised. We fully recognise this and support theconcept of having healthy rivers, lakes and streams in thedistrict. We have established a close working relationship withthe Department of Conservation, Environment Canterburyand Ngai Tahu, and are extending this to other agencies andinterest groups on both a general and case specific basis. (e.g.Our present work on the Waipara River is an example of ourcommitment to play a proactive role in facilitating solutionsbalancing environmental, recreational and other interests.)AdvocacyIt should be clear from this strategy that we see the HurunuiWater Management Strategy as a critical component that hasthe potential to influence, positively or negatively, every aspectof wellbeing and prosperity in this district. Accordingly, we arecommitted to pursue every advocacy role we can, in support ofthe Hurunui Water Management Strategy. In particular, we will:• Continue to play a positive, proactive part in theCanterbury Water Management Strategy• Lobby Government to position any water developmentproject that meet the aims of the ZIP as importantinfrastructure developments, in the interests of Hurunui,Canterbury and NZ• Maintain and/or build relationships with all keystakeholders and interest groupsConclusion:The Key Principle of “Balance”This section on Water Management as outlined has beendeliberately included to recognise the importance of thestrategic issue of water. We cannot over emphasise the keyprinciple of balance that we firmly believe must be achieved iftrue prosperity for all is to result. This is not a strategy aboutirrigation and land use development at any cost. It is equallynot a strategy about locking up our resources and assets forthe benefit of a few, whoever they may be. The guiding themesof the Hurunui Water Management Strategy are responsibleand sustainable growth and development for Hurunui and theprosperity of its communities. At the same time, it is to alsoprotect natural and traditional environmental and recreationalvalues, and a commitment to pursuing and applying bestpractice land use and water quality research, scientific advances41