ECan decision on $20m delayed

Environment Canterbury will delay until next year its decision on how to pay for a $20 million environmental restoration project.

At last week's launch of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy, the mayoral forum announced a $20 million project called Immediate Steps.

The project 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. It is expected to cost more than $20 million over the next five years.

Mr Neill told the Herald last week that the council might decide how to fund the project by the end of the month, but at yesterday's meeting, the council agreed to reach a decision by May next year.

ECan water portfolio co-chair Angus McKay said several means of funding the project, including a 2 per cent rates rise for 2010, had been discussed.

"It is going to be a careful balancing act for the region. We need to work out what's best for the region, but also what is affordable."

He said ECan would consult the Ministry of Environment about the possibility of receiving central government funding.

ECan would also talk to Canterbury's territorial authorities to discuss how best to share the cost, while a variation to ECan's Long-Term Council Community Plan will also be introduced.

Earlier this month, Environment Minister Nick Smith confirmed the strategy would eventually become statutory.

ECan endorsed the strategy at the meeting. "It is important that we as a council lead the way to endorse the strategy and I look forward to other local territorial authorities putting their weight behind this important document," Mr Neill said.

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