ECan earmarks $20m to restore waterways

Millions of dollars will be spent on a new Environment Canterbury (ECan) water unit and an environmental restoration programme under the region's ambitious water strategy.

The strategy, which has been endorsed by the Canterbury Mayoral Forum, was released yesterday.

It said an environmental programme, called Immediate Steps, could cost up to $20 million in the first five years.

It would restore waterways affected by intensive land use, including farming, and would feature fences and planting stretching hundreds of kilometres near streams and wetlands, as well as pest control and willow removal.

ECan has diverted $100,000 from existing projects to fund some unit roles.

Unit staff would eventually include an executive director, five senior staff and five support workers.

ECan chairman Alec Neill said the extra responsibilities under the strategy would cost up to 4 per cent more in general rates, with an increase of up to 2 per cent of the regional council's overall expenditure.

ECan will spend $124m this year.

"ECan's burden is greater than other councils [because] it's a regional body and we will be running the water executive, with staffing requirements," Neill said.

A variation to the council's long-term plan, detailing the extra cost, would be put out for public consultation next year.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker, chairman of the Canterbury Mayoral Forum, said there was acceptance among mayors that millions of dollars needed to be spent. "I don't believe we can do it without the Government being part of the solution, as well as each council identifying the areas they're going to have to fund," he said.

The overall cost of new water infrastructure and storage in Canterbury is not yet known.

Consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers will report back next year on the options and costs of a proposed public-private water infrastructure and services body.

Ashburton Mayor Bede O'Malley, chairman of the strategy's steering group, gave Prime Minister John Key a copy of the strategy yesterday.

O'Malley said the strategy was a vision, and it would have taken much longer to complete if all the gaps were filled. He was confident parochial issues would not hijack the 10 proposed water-zone committees.

Issues that required central government help included the possible use of Meridian's Waitaki water for irrigation in summer, and a water conservation order hampering development of Lake Coleridge for storage.

ECan will establish its water executive next year, while councils and Ngai Tahu will be asked to endorse the strategy. Zone water-management committees of between seven and 10 people will be established.

TIMELINE

* February: Legal powers for new structure confirmed with Government; water executive established by ECan; economic assessment completed.

* March: Councils and Ngai Tahu endorse strategy; zone and regional committees established; Immediate Steps environment restoration programme set up.

* December 2010: Feasibility model and business plan developed for new water entity; Canterbury Mayoral Forum and Ngai Tahu to review the strategy's progress.

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