Seminars planned to ease tensions between ECan, residents

Residents turned out to support ECan regional councillor Lan Pham after she was criticised for her comments on water management. Photo / Supplied

A series of seminars are planned to reduce tensions between Environment Canterbury and residents over how water issues in the Selwyn-Waihora catchment are managed.

ECan's chief scientist Tim Davie said the seminars will be held to provide residents information on the Selwyn River - the main community concerns.

Tensions came to a head at the Selwyn Waihora Zone Committee meeting last Tuesday over democracy surrounding water issues and the effects of farming intensification.

About 20 residents took a stand after zone committee chairman Allen Lim complained divisions between ECan were beginning to emerge following a "Talk for Water" meeting in March.

Residents were at the meeting to support ECan councillor Lan Pham after she made comments at the March meeting the about the way water is managed.

Cr Pham said while she did not want to comment on the letter, she supported the community.

"I completely support both the community who came out in support of a democratic voice and environmental limits, and the zone committee who have worked tirelessly in their zone to make the best of a complex situation," she said.

After the meeting Mr Lim wrote a letter to ECan chairman David Bedford complaining councillors were not collaborating together.

But Mr Lim said the letter was not aimed at Cr Pham.

"It was about the way we work, collaborative process means everyone is getting together at the table to talk things through. . . if you have a stance where you are not willing to compromise it does not mesh with the collaborative process," he said.

In response to Mr Lim's letter, Mr Bedford said while the evening was "unfortunate" but he had no doubt different views will be expressed by ECan councillors on occasion.

At the meeting resident Mike Glover told Mr Lim he was "out of line" for complaining about Cr Pham and the zone committee is a democratic process.

"We need to celebrate the fact that somebody elected is putting her hand up and saying "hey all is not well here," he said.

Key concerns raised were over the Central Plains Water scheme which could lead to intensification of agriculture and a higher nitrogen load going into Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora.

Before the 1940s it was estimated Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora had about 800 tonnes reaching it per year.

Mr Lim told Selwyn Times to achieve 800 tonnes farmers in the Lincoln and Rolleston townships would need to move off the land.

"Eight-hundred tonnes was never going to be achievable. When people make it sound like it is achievable that kind of annoys me" he said.

Mr Glover told the zone committee the nitrogen load going into the lake needs to be changed.

Mr Lim said he understood Mr Glover's concerns but a lot of work went into deciding the pollution limits for dairy farmers and this was the result.

A limit has be set under Selwyn Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora plan (plan change one) for nitrogen coming from agricultural activities with dairying required to make a 30 per cent reduction.

Mr Glover said he did not want to give the impression he was against dairy farming the community should not have to fork out for the mass pollution taking place.

Dates and times for the seminars are yet to be confirmed.