Safe water - now and in the future. Our water quality and how we allocate water needs improvement.

I was raised on a farm on the Hurunui River 4km from the river mouth. I was always on the river as a child: white-baiting with Mum, fishing for eels, flounder and salmon with Dad, chasing runaway sheep with the dogs. We swam, we rowed our dinghy around and we drank the water. Today the lower Hurunui River now has “Boil Water - Do not drink the water” signs and often “Not safe for swimming” signs. The flows are sometimes so low your boat bounces on the rocks and the fish numbers are way down. Swimming in big slimy blobs of algae is no fun. I have been advocating at ECan for improved river health and higher minimum flows for this and other rivers. What legacy are we leaving for our children? Our economy depends on the health of our water and soils. I’ve talked to many groups and individuals about this: With over 80% of our lowland streams in poor ecological health, water quality in our streams and rivers is clearly a top issue, one that I pledge to work tirelessly to improve.

ECan is currently experiencing a huge increase in the number of applications to take water from both aquifers below the ground and from rivers. It is like a gold rush. Water is currently allocated on a ‘first in, first served’ basis. We must review this to make sure we have set aside sufficient water for community drinking water schemes for our families.

For Christchurch we must protect our iconic water supply. Currently it is so pure we do not need to treat it and we must make sure it stays that way. The cost to us of finding an alternate source would be huge. This means we must prevent contaminants entering the underground water reserves of Christchurch.
 
It is apparent that proposed large scale irrigation schemes to the west of the city pose a threat to our water supply, particularly in the southwest of the city. Animal waste and fertilizer should not be allowed to leach into soil or runoff into streams and rivers.  Our soils in the west of the city are very free draining and vulnerable to contaminants leaching down into our water supply. Land use and development practices in this area must be carefully managed. Taking so much water from the Waimak that it runs at very low flows for long periods of time is a risky proposition.

I am not against irrigation or water storage schemes but I am against water schemes such as CPW that use ratepayer’s money to help fund a scheme that can be used only by the less than 350 shareholders. I do not support public money being spent for private shareholder gain.

Your rates - prudent use of your rates with an eye to value – no more Target Pest fiascos.
We must ensure that we provide significant value for dollars spent as these are your rates dollars. As someone who has worked for large corporations and as a current business owner my experience has been that there are always opportunities for being more efficient and spending more carefully. Public money must be spent with the same care as if it is your own money.

Effective environmental monitoring - to support informed management of our resources – you can’t manage what you can’t measure.
At the current time we do not know how much water is being taken by water take consent holders as water meters are not in place on all consented water takes. How can we accurately manage this vital resource? The technology is readily available and needs to be put in place as quickly as possible so ECan staff can report accurately and do planning based on factual information rather than estimates.

Integrated energy plan – effective policies for cleaner air and improved public transportation.
With anticipated increases in our energy needs we need to ensure that we are maximizing energy efficiency and conservation with our current consumption and moving to using smaller local renewable energy sources for domestic and industry purposes. Is it efficient to generate power great distances from the point of use? We need more solar hot water heating and more wind power generation. Uptake of the Clean Heat project will assist in improving air quality. But what about the many families who do not meet the criteria for assistance? How can they be helped? Have we fully investigated bio-fuel generation from our waste stream at Bromley? What would it take to set up digester plants to convert dairy shed effluent into usable fuel? If we don’t reduce current waste to landfill volumes we will need another landfill sooner than projected.

Our transport options need to include improved roads in the north of the city. We need to make bus transport a more appealing option and include other bus services for the wide range of passenger needs. Bicycle lanes need completion to support increased use. Is road freight the most efficient way to move goods? Why is Canterbury receiving only 6.8% funding from the 13.6 % revenue generated for the National Transport Programme for transport projects and road maintenance? These are good questions that need serious consideration and lobbying of government to get a more equitable share of funding.

Climate Change Preparedness
Plans need to be put in place for the possible outcomes of climate change. Reinforcement of the Waimakariri stop banks for severe flood events is necessary and underway to protect Christchurch from flooding. Other catchment areas will need to be reviewed for vulnerabilities to significant rainfall events and potential flooding. (Remember that ECan responsibilities are from Kekerengu to Kurow). Coastlines could experience significant change and temperature changes could change the balance of insects and pests and make conditions difficult for our native plants and animals. Just as for Civil Defence, we need to prepare to minimize risks.

Effective Representation
I understand the statutory framework within which resource management decisions are made and have included this area in my university studies. The upcoming council term will complete the 10 year review of the Regional Policy Statement which is the guiding document for all decision making by Canterbury councils. Significant work must be done with Christchurch City Council and other District Councils on this very important document. This will require working closely with the other councils in a spirit of co-operation with an eye to planning for best outcomes for our future. Because I have attended most ECan council meetings and workshops in the last 18 months along with many ECan resource consent and regional plan hearings I have broad first-hand experience that gives me significant insight into the role and responsibility of governance. I am able to go to work for you almost immediately. (A senior councillor told me it usually takes about two years for new councillors to get up to speed and that I was already well prepared as I am familiar with the many areas of ECan responsibility).