Environment Canterbury is hosting a series of focus group meetings to assist with making recommendations about the rules that will be included in the the Selwyn-Waihora chapter of the Land and Water Regional plans to limit the nutrient loads reaching the waterways. Further information about the process and the scenarios that will be discussed is [...]

As part of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy, the Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee has funding of $100,000 per year for four years (2011-2015) to support projects through the Immediate Steps biodiversity protection and restoration programme. The Immediate Steps programme aims to protect and restore freshwater biodiversity and water-use affected terrestrial biodiversity in Canterbury. The Selwyn-Waihora  Zone [...]

Environment Canterbury is inviting landowners and community groups to apply for a share of $2 million in annual funding to protect and restore Canterbury’s unique native biodiversity. Environment Canterbury Regional Programmes Manager Stephen Hall said the Environmental Enhancement Fund – administered by Environment Canterbury’s Biodiversity Team – provides financial support to communities where it can [...]

Recent headlines in the media have highlighted the issues associated with controlling numbers of Canada geese around Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere and other water bodies. From June 9th 2011 Canada geese were moved from Schedule 1 to Schedule 5 of the Wildlife Act. This means the species is no longer managed by fish and game councils [...]

A health warning has been issued by Canterbury District Health Board because of increased concentrations of toxic algae (cyanobacteria) in Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere. People and animals should avoid contact with the lake until the warning has been lifted. Further details and a media release are available from the ECan website. updated Jan 11 2012