Government to appoint Commissioners to take over ECan

Mar 2010

Following on from last month's critical report on ECan's performance, the Government has today announced it is removing ECan's elected Councillors.  The Council will be replaced with Commissioners who will serve until 2013, thus delaying local body elections for regional Councillors until that time. 

Dame Margaret Bazley has been appointed Chair with the remaining Commissioners still to be confirmed and the terms of reference for the Commissioners still to be finalised.

The Commissioners will be given powers under special legislation (the “Environment Canterbury Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management Bill”) to be introduced to Parliament this week, including powers to:

  • Fast-track the completion of the regional plans in Canterbury.  This means that appeals on the plan will be limited to points of law to the High Court and not to the Environment Court.
  • Provide a targeted moratorium on water take consents in areas that are, or are near to being, fully allocated, subject to the approval of the Minister for the Environment.
  • Determine water conservation orders in the Canterbury region, including the current Hurunui application, under new criteria including the Canterbury Water Management Strategy and Part II of the RMA.

No decision has yet been made on the report's recommendation for a new Canterbury Water Authority to replace ECan.

The implications of these changes will be significant and will be clearer once the legislation is released.  We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

For further information please contact the Anderson Lloyd Resource Management Team.