River Gravel Management Strategy review

Update: August 2023

We're reviewing our framework for managing river-based gravel extraction across Waitaha Canterbury. This process is complex given the change in the regulatory framework and community expectations for gravel management over the last decade. The comprehensive engagement process with partners and stakeholders to ensure the review produces a durable, fit for purpose approach is taking longer than initially anticipated.

Staff are working in partnership with ngā Papatipu Rūnanga and engaged in conversations about broader river-based gravel extraction issues. Collectively, we want to ensure our approach is durable and fit for purpose.

In order to get it right we are exploring the connection between the GMS and the Regional Policy Statement (RPS) that Environment Canterbury is currently reviewing as part of the Integrated Planning Framework and an opportunity to align these workstreams to achieve the best outcome.

We are continuing engagement with our partners and stakeholder groups and will use all the feedback to inform this process.

Any further updates will be loaded to the River-based gravel extraction page on our website.

If you have further questions about this work, please contact us at gravel@ecan.govt.nz..

Update: August 2023

We're reviewing our framework for managing river-based gravel extraction across Waitaha Canterbury. This process is complex given the change in the regulatory framework and community expectations for gravel management over the last decade. The comprehensive engagement process with partners and stakeholders to ensure the review produces a durable, fit for purpose approach is taking longer than initially anticipated.

Staff are working in partnership with ngā Papatipu Rūnanga and engaged in conversations about broader river-based gravel extraction issues. Collectively, we want to ensure our approach is durable and fit for purpose.

In order to get it right we are exploring the connection between the GMS and the Regional Policy Statement (RPS) that Environment Canterbury is currently reviewing as part of the Integrated Planning Framework and an opportunity to align these workstreams to achieve the best outcome.

We are continuing engagement with our partners and stakeholder groups and will use all the feedback to inform this process.

Any further updates will be loaded to the River-based gravel extraction page on our website.

If you have further questions about this work, please contact us at gravel@ecan.govt.nz..

  • Previous engagement

    In mid-late 2022, we carried out some early engagement including a survey and workshops. You can read a summary of the survey results here.

    Of the respondents who provided additional feedback beyond the survey questions, the key concerns we have been asked to consider are as follows:

    • How we operate as the regulatory body and what can be improved upon.
    • Environmental impacts, both for and against river-based gravel extraction.
    • The need to take a long-term view of river management with respect for the impending impacts of climate change.
    • Long, difficult, and expensive process to gain Resource Consents, needs to be simplified.
    • Gravel Authorisation process needs improvement.
    • The contribution of gravel extraction as a means of flood mitigation and road structure (ie bridge pylons) longevity.

    If you have further questions about this work, please contact us at gravel@ecan.govt.nz(External link).

Page last updated: 24 Aug 2023, 11:32 AM