Report about ECan delayed

A $120,000 taxpayer-funded review of delays and other aspects of Environment Canterbury's (ECan) work has itself been delayed.

ECan's 500 or so employees face an unsettling Christmas and New Year break while decisions that will affect the organisation's future are made.

In October, the Government appointed two teams to investigate ECan – one reviewing its resource management functions and the other its governance and policy functions. Originally a draft report was to be completed by Christmas, but that now seems more likely towards the end of January.

The reviews were prompted by dissatisfaction with ECan's processing of resource consents, its efforts to develop a proper framework for managing the region's natural resources, and its relationships with the region's other councils.

Figures released to The Press under the Official Information Act show the resource management review is costing about $83,000 and the other review about $36,000.

ECan chairman Alec Neill said yesterday the review teams left the council a week or so ago.

"There was meant to be a draft available to us last week. They have communicated with us indicating that draft will not be likely to be available until mid to late next month.

"They were in and out for about 2 1/2 weeks. I'm satisfied they were able to gather sufficient information and I look forward to the report."

Former National deputy prime minister Wyatt Creech, leader of the resource management investigation, said more work was being done on the report this week.

Environment Minister Nick Smith and Local Government Minister Rodney Hide have not ruled out appointing a commissioner to run ECan if its performance fails to improve.

ECan's performance was labelled "hopeless" by Smith this year.

ECan says it has resolved its resource consent processing problems in recent months.

- © Fairfax NZ News