Waitaki District Council undecided over support for water strategy

A major strategy to resolve issues with water shortages and future use in Canterbury has not yet won support from the Waitaki District Council.

The council yesterday deferred endorsement of the Canterbury water management strategy, prepared by the Canterbury Mayoral Forum (which represents all district and city councils in the Canterbury region) in conjunction with Environment Canterbury (ECan) under the support of the Government.

But the council's reluctance to make a decision yesterday was not because it did not support the strategy, but because of a lack of answers to issues it has.

The council was considering an extensive report prepared by policy adviser Ben Hopkins which raised a number of questions that councillors decided they wanted answers on before deciding whether to back the strategy.

It will now be up to council staff to work with ECan to resolve those issues so the council can make its final decision.

The strategy is aimed at the sustainable management and development of Canterbury's water resources in the future.

Some areas are facing water shortages due to an over-allocation.

Most other district and city councils in Canterbury have supported the strategy, which will go to the Government before Christmas for its consideration.

But yesterday, some Waitaki councillors felt concerns they had with the strategy had not been addressed, and did not want to be forced into making a quick decision.

Cr Alistair Mavor was not happy the council was deferring a decision on the strategy.

While accepting some of it did not apply to the Waitaki catchment, he felt it was "generally a good document".

It was a way forward to resolve water issues in Canterbury - "and we are part of Canterbury", he said.

However, while Cr Struan Munro agreed the direction of the strategy was right, he said there were a lot of unanswered questions in terms of the effect on the Waitaki district.

Cr Jim Hopkins emphasised the council was not rejecting the strategy.

"All it means is that we are not yet ready to make a decision. We need more time than we have been given," he said.

david.bruce@odt.co.nz