Charges to fund water shake-up

Water charges will help fund the biggest shake-up of water management in Canterbury.

It is unlikely Christchurch residents will face water charges immediately, but rates money will be required to fund the new regime.

Under an ambitious plan developed by a group of Canterbury mayors, local and central government officials and interest groups, a public-private body will be created to design, build, finance and operate new water storage and distribution in the region.

Existing irrigators will be encouraged to merge with the new water organisation in return for shares, or to pair up through contracts.

The draft Canterbury water management strategy, to be announced today by Agriculture Minister David Carter, will advocate the region be split into 10 water-management zones.

"I think this is a brilliant blueprint for the sustainable management of Canterbury's water," said Ashburton Mayor Bede O'Malley, chairman of the strategy's steering group.

Water charges, self-regulation and monitoring would ensure water was used more efficiently, the strategy said.

There were no details on a possible charging regime, with a financial report scheduled to be completed next month.

However, irrigators and big industrial users are expected to be the first to pay.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker, chairman of the Canterbury Mayoral Forum, said it was unlikely Christchurch residents would face water charges. However, the issue could not be taken off the table and the council would be considering it more seriously "in a decade".

Large-scale storage projects there are seven shortlisted, including options at Lake Coleridge, Lees Valley and on the central plains would provide enough water to increase economic productivity and claw back environmental degradation.

O'Malley said ratepayers would probably foot the bill for initial environmental-restoration work and the creation of a "water executive", a semi-autonomous executive arm of Environment Canterbury. However, such debates should not delay the strategy's implementation, he said. "If we're going to get bogged down over who pays, then nothing happens."

O'Malley said the Government was investing heavily in Auckland's roads but to Cantabrians and the South Island water was equally important.

Forum members said the proposal needed central Government assistance, and Carter left the door open for funding.

"The Government's saying present us with concrete proposals and we'll have a look at them," he said.

The minister said a moratorium on new water consents would be self-defeating, but a short-term moratorium might be acceptable if progress was made on the strategy.

If the proposal is endorsed by city, district and regional councils, and Ngai Tahu, several new groups will be established, including local committees and a regional committee, as well as a "water executive" to oversee and advise them.

More than 200 people could be involved in the suggested three-tiered structure, ranging from farmers and environmentalists to the ministers of agriculture and the environment.

Under the proposed regime, performance standards for water use would be published, with the most efficient users getting discounts.

"The modelling suggests it will be possible to substantially increase agriculture output while maintaining groundwater quality within acceptable limits as long as nitrogen-inhibiting technologies are applied across the region," the report said.

Water Rights Trust chairman Murray Rodgers renewed his call for a moratorium to give the regime "breathing space", and said rules needed to be enforced.

Irrigation groups want a further 350,000 hectares in Canterbury irrigated by 2040, which they say would produce an extra $700,000 annually.

Comments on the draft proposal close on October 2, with the final version being published by the end of that month.

- © Fairfax NZ News