The decisions explained – Environmental Regulation and Protection

The Council opted for the middle level of investment for the Environmental Regulation and Protection core service, including the targeted rate for Christchurch and Banks Peninsula to raise $1 million in Year 1 to support biodiversity work in the district.

The work involved in this core service

Our Environmental Regulation and Protection services are:

• Setting the regulatory frameworks for the management of Canterbury’s environment
• Providing authorisations in line with the regulatory framework for the management of Canterbury’s environment
• Ensuring compliance with the regulatory framework for the management of Canterbury’s environment
• Responding to events where environmental harm is occurring
• Leading collective efforts to prevent, reduce or eliminate pests
• Partnering to protect and enhance indigenous biodiversity and mahinga kai
• Collecting and sharing high quality data, information and advice on the Canterbury environment
• Providing resources to support local action.

These services contribute to Council’s long-term aspirations to:

• Accelerate regeneration of the natural environment
• Enable improved water and land use outcomes, and
• Empower our communities to take action.

Council decisions

The Council agreed to begin work on the review of the Regional Coastal Environment Plan for Canterbury in 2025.

Other decisions for this core service include:

• A net decrease of general rate, targeted rate and user pays funding of $35K in Year 1, and $5.7M in Year 2, to make budget adjustments
• Budget adjustments totalling a $535K decrease from rates in Year 1 and $5.7M in Year 2. This was the total of the budget adjustments, plus a further consent deficit of $500K in Year 1.