Canterbury needs better irrigation and it will have to be delivered through water storage, Prime Minister John Key says.A special review team recommended last week commissioners be appointed urgently to replace the Environment Canterbury (ECan) council an
Canterbury needs better irrigation and it will have to be delivered through water storage, Prime Minister John Key says.
A special review team recommended last week commissioners be appointed urgently to replace the Environment Canterbury (ECan) council and turn around its poor performance administering water management responsibilities and resource consent processes.
It also recommended setting up an entirely new authority to manage water issues.
The report is being considered by ministers, and Mr Key said yesterday it was a "quite damning" assessment of the situation.
"It's no secret we want water to be allocated in a more efficient way," he said at his post-cabinet press conference.
"Whether that would lead us to set up a completely separate body is completely another step...if we were going to do that, why would we do it just in Christchurch?"
But Mr Key said he wanted more of the Canterbury plains irrigated.
"I personally believe it can be well balanced against environmental issues," he said.
"Rivers like the Avon are starting to run dry, and that's because of the pressure on the aquifers from people drawing water out of that water table."
Mr Key said the answer involved water storage.
"Without that, it's not possible. I support greater irrigation in the South Island. How that's achieved is a matter for others."
