24 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Thursday <strong>April</strong> <strong>22</strong> <strong>2021</strong> Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive. 4PM – 7PM WEEKDAYS CHRISTCHURCH 100.1FM
since Environment Canterbury climate-change emergency Cracking down on ‘dumpers’ by sea-level rise this century and threatened and facing increased our productive and protected land pressures due to river system Environment jeopardised by the arrival and change. spread of new, exotic weeds and Wetlands are also ecosystems Canterbury Chair pests from warmer climates. at-risk nationally and regionally, Jenny Hughey All these eventualities have degraded by draining, damming to be planned and prepared for, and diversion affecting their and enhance that work. fleet hybrid or long-range electric and Environment Canterbury ability to sequester carbon, WHY SOME people choose to to issue fines of this magnitude, That work included setting by 20<strong>22</strong>. Carbon emissions from will remain in the vanguard of cleanse freshwater and mitigate dump rubbish our regional which are well in excess of the up a climate-change integration air travel across the organisation these climate change efforts. flooding, as well as impacting on UNSIGHTLY: parks, when the same effort cost of a visit to the transfer station. are offset via our own biodiversity One example is the $40 million biodiversity and mahinga kai. Anyone caught taking programme it to an in appropriate the Long-term Plan Waimakariri River flood With biosecurity, we are dumping rubbish facility 2018-28, would ensuring see that climate waste change Until programmes. now, the park rangers protection project, completed putting greater emphasis on the in any of our responsibly was actively and considered sustainably across could According only invoice to a offenders Madworld report late last year. <strong>The</strong> network of risks of new pests establishing three regional taken workstreams, care of, staggers increasing me. visibility for in costs 2019, after our carrying gross emissions out were floodgates and stopbanks will in Canterbury. Warming parks may now of Last the year, science Environment and what we know investigations. <strong>22</strong>53 tonnes <strong>The</strong>se of carbon were dioxide often find themselves protect half a million people and temperatures, changing soils and Canterbury about the impact spent more of climate than not (CO2) paid and equivalent, the investigation compared with slapped with an $8 billion of community and new land uses mean new weeds $190,000 change on of Canterbury, ratepayer money and liaising to resource removals also of costs 7883 money. tonnes of CO2- instant $750 fine. business assets from a possible especially, will be able to gain a remove on the issue rubbish, with clapped-out iwi and regional Under equivalent the new through rules, our an alleged efforts offender and from has 28 forestry days to planting pay efficiency whiteware partners, other and old local cars, authorities from “super flood”. better foothold across the region. Canterbury’s most important 2019-20 financial year, Environment Canterbury had to pick up send us a photo from your cell- who is dumping rubbish, please our and three central regional government. parks – the across fine. If 2700 that hectares. is ignored, a reminder <strong>The</strong> is changing issued with climate another will 28 pose natural <strong>The</strong> last major flood was in More broadly, we have to assets, with diverse, stunning money As an which organisation, could have we been have December landscapes 1957, to when enjoy, parts more than curb 62 reliance tonnes on of fossil rubbish fuels and phone using the Snap Send Solve better also made spent significant elsewhere. progress Some in days many to pay risks up. to Failing life and to livelihood stump along of with Coutts provision Island in for Belfast a range and in the find Waimakariri environmentally and Ashleysuitable app or call the regional council abandoned addressing vehicles our own were greenhousegas emissions, set on up in after Canterbury. that will lead In recent to court years of recreational Kainga were activities. swamped by river Rakahuri alternatives, parks. such as electricity on and 0800 765 588. fire, creating and with even our greater action we have to recover seen how the fine. occasional, <strong>The</strong>se flow parks peaking are at located 3990 on cubic the As well hydrogen, as the $152,000 to power it our cost public (Note that the number above environmental impact. Christchurch building receiving a Offenders’ but extreme, names weather and events details have shores metres of Lake per Tekapo second and (cumecs). along to dispose transport. of it properly, 98 vehicles were When also discarded, my predecessor costing Steve discharges to air, land or water, is the 24/7 number to report Whether it is simple laziness will also appear on the regional “market-leading” energy efficiency had huge effects on residents and the banks <strong>The</strong> protection of the Waimakariri scheme has been or a blindspot in the desire to council’s website for 12 months. River designed and the to Ashley/Rakahuri defend Christchurch another Lowndes $40,000 retired to get rid as chair of. of not the 9-5 customer services take rating care of of 5.0 the out environment of 6 in the year on If infrastructure you’ve ever spent around much the time South River. from Each a flood offers of something as much for as 6500 Just 15 this of these council were late dealt last with year, he number). behalf to February of these on ‘dumpers’, the National Environment Australian Canterbury Built Environment is cracking rubbish <strong>The</strong> and driest litter parts there of can our ruin region, overseas, Island. you will have seen how everyone, cumecs. including walking, by an insurance highlighted company some of or the the big swimming, Environment fishing, boating, Canterbury’s vehicle changes owner. on the way. He was • Cr Jenny Hughey is chair down. Rating System New Zealand. the along landscape. the Marlborough Until recently, coast and mountain leadership biking, of biodiversity bird watching, and On behalf optimistic of our we ratepayers, would be able to of the Canterbury Regional Anyone <strong>The</strong> building’s caught features dumping include rubbish 184 in solar any panels of our which three regional can this Plains, blight, are but expected bad habits to get seem even bird underpinned hunting, or simply by climate-change enjoying get much climate tougher change with and those sustainability. Canterbury) New across Zealand much was of largely the Canterbury free of horse biosecurity riding, motocross, programmes game- is also we’ve had deal enough. with the It “pressing is time to issues” Council of (Environment parks generate may more now than find themselves 55,000 to drier. be creeping North-westerly and storms need to are the view concerns. of some of New Zealand’s iconic landscapes. who choose I share to wreck his confidence. our regional As a slapped kilowatt with hours an of instant electricity $750 per do predicted our utmost to to become educate more transgressors with since torrential and stop alpine littering Environment rainstorms before intense, Canterbury’s distinct braided community, and as a council, fine. year. Our It’s regional park a rangers year rivers and unique wetlands face Canterbury we parks. As we have found out, unfortunately, some people see them ensuring the parks remain clean landslides as a dumping a vital ecological ground link too. In and the provide and tidy cope for with all. If the you changing see anyone climate We all have are taking a part some to play bold in steps to have <strong>The</strong>re been has given been a warrant a 26% reduction under it is turning too late. our braided rivers into many challenges. <strong>The</strong> rivers form ensure we are a better place to the per Resource staff declared member Management in emissions Act a climate-change emergency Our roaring regional rapids, parks fuelling are among since 30 June 2010. We now have and causing widespread erosion. an abundant food supply and and the tests it will set us. But access to JENNY electric HUGHEY and hybrid explains what Canterbury’s coastal nesting grounds for 26 species of by sea-level there will rise always this century be a need and to do threatened and facing increased CONTENT MARKETING vehicles the and council hope has to have been half doing. our communities will be threatened native birds – most classified as our more. productive and protected land pressures due to river system Environment Prostate <strong>The</strong> formal declaration of a jeopardised by the arrival and change. of climate emergency across cancer: Life beyond a diagnosis spread of new, exotic weeds and Wetlands are also ecosystems Canterbury Chair Canterbury was one of the most pests from warmer climates. at-risk nationally and regionally, serious, and colourful, moments Jenny Hughey All these eventualities have degraded by draining, damming in the regional council’s more than A DIAGNOSIS of prostate cancer to men with to prostate be planned cancer and prepared and the for, now well and diversion established affecting Canterbury. their 30-year history. and enhance that work. can be devastating fleet news hybrid for or the long-range men electric people who and support Environment them. We Canterbury are Chris ability Ward to sequester and his wife carbon, Dianne A year ago this Saturday, That work included involved setting and their by 20<strong>22</strong>. families. Carbon emissions holding from the will conference remain in in the Christchurch this these year climate as a commitment change efforts. the fourth flooding, Wednesday as well as of impacting the month Canterbury became New Zealand’s programme in the Long-term cancer in Plan their lifetimes are offset and via our more own biodiversity to our South One Island example supporters, is the $40 after million that is biodiversity well attended and with mahinga over kai. 60 vanguard of run a cleanse support freshwater group in and Lincoln mitigate on at 11.49am, Environment up a climate-change integration One eight men air travel will get across prostate the organisation first council to proclaim such an 2018-28, ensuring climate than change 3500 men are programmes. diagnosed each having to cancel Waimakariri the event River last flood year people With on their biosecurity, books. we are emergency, formally dedicating protection project, completed putting greater emphasis on the was actively considered year across in New Zealand. According When to caught a Madworld due report to Covid-19.” Said Chris: “I am really looking itself to consideration of climate late last year. <strong>The</strong> network of risks of new pests establishing workstreams, increasing early, visibility the chances in increase 2019, our for gross more emissions were <strong>The</strong>re is great line-up of expert forward to the conference this year change at the heart of all it does. floodgates and stopbanks will in Canterbury. Warming of the science and what positive we know outcomes, <strong>22</strong>53 and tonnes there of certainly is a life beyond (CO2) a diagnosis. equivalent, compared ing with issues from $8 billion the latest of community news in and to learn new more land about uses mean the latest new weeds carbon dioxide speakers at this conference cover- as it gives me a fantastic opportunity <strong>The</strong> declaration highlighted protect half a million people and temperatures, changing soils and about the impact of climate that all the work Environment change on Canterbury, Canterbury does – from Survivorship and liaising and removals maintaining of 7883 tonnes a of diagnosis CO2- and business treatment, assets from to ways a possible for development especially, in will prostate be able cancer, to gain so a I on the issue with iwi and freshwater management to good regional quality of life equivalent is the theme through for our efficiency men and their “super families flood”. can live better can share better this foothold with our across group.” the region. partners, other local authorities biodiversity and biosecurity, this year’s Prostate efforts Cancer and from Foundation’s National Conference across 2700 being hectares. held ongoing medications. December 1957, when parts with curb an reliance interest on in fossil prostate fuels and forestry planting with the outcomes <strong>The</strong> last of major treatments flood was and in •PCFNZ More invites broadly, anyone we have to and central government. transport and urban development to air quality, and also regional As an organisation, in we Christchurch have on <strong>The</strong> May changing 2. climate will pose Another of way Coutts PCFNZ Island helps in Belfast men, and cancer find to environmentally attend. For suitable more leadership – has a climate change also made significant progress Said Paul in Hayes many of PCFNZ: risks to life “Our and livelihood and their families Kainga were is through swamped a network of 40 flow Support peaking Groups at 3990 across cubic please hydrogen, go to to https://prostate. power our public by river information alternatives, and such to as register, electricity and Dianne focus. and Chris Ward of the Prostate addressing Cancer our own greenhousegas emissions, with our we have seen how occasional, in Canterbury. In recent years national conference is one of the ways Support Currently, Group in under Selwyn. the Resource we provide education and support the country, metres with per four second of these (cumecs). groups org.nz/ transport. Management Act, regional councils are required only to adapt to climate change, not mitigate it – that responsibility is the Government’s, but could change. Even in ‘adapt mode’ many of Environment Canterbury’s existing policies and plans already contribute to reduced emissions. In declaring the climate emergency, the Council noted it would continue to show leadership on climate-change and do so without adding new programmes at ratepayers’ expense. It also gave staff a clear mandate to continue Christchurch building receiving a “market-leading” energy efficiency rating of 5.0 out of 6 in the year to February on the National Australian Built Environment Rating System New Zealand. <strong>The</strong> building’s features include 184 solar panels which can generate more than 55,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. <strong>The</strong>re has been a 26% reduction per staff member in emissions since 30 June 2010. We now have access to electric and hybrid vehicles and hope to have half our Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz but extreme, weather events have had huge effects on residents and infrastructure around the South Island. <strong>The</strong> driest parts of our region, along the Marlborough coast and across much of the Canterbury Plains, are expected to get even drier. North-westerly storms are predicted to become more intense, with torrential alpine rainstorms turning our braided rivers into roaring rapids, fuelling landslides and causing widespread erosion. Canterbury’s coastal communities will be threatened <strong>The</strong> protection scheme has been designed to defend Christchurch from a flood of as much as 6500 cumecs. Environment Canterbury’s leadership of biodiversity and biosecurity programmes is also underpinned by climate-change concerns. Canterbury’s distinct braided rivers and unique wetlands face many challenges. <strong>The</strong> rivers form a vital ecological link and provide an abundant food supply and nesting grounds for 26 species of native birds – most classified as Thursday <strong>April</strong> <strong>22</strong> <strong>2021</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> OPINION 25 When my predecessor Steve Lowndes retired as chair of this council late last year, he highlighted some of the big changes on the way. He was optimistic we would be able to deal with the “pressing issues” of climate change and sustainability. I share his confidence. As a community, and as a council, we are taking some bold steps to ensure we are in a better place to cope with the changing climate and the tests it will set us. But there will always be a need to do more.
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