New water strategy approved

Christchurch City Council has approved its long-term strategy for managing the district’s water services and resources for current and future generations.

The Te Wai Ora o Tāne Integrated Water Strategy sets guidelines and goals for the Council’s management of its “three waters” services – drinking water, wastewater and stormwater – as well as surface water, groundwater and flood management.

Water accounts for about a quarter of the Council’s expected spending over the next 10 years, with up to $10 billion budgeted in its Long Term Plan.

The Integrated Water Strategy replaces the Council’s three existing water-related strategies and aims to support ongoing recovery activities following the earthquakes and to set a path for future management of the district’s water resources.

The Council gathered public feedback on the draft strategy document earlier this year. A total of 36 submissions were received, which were then considered by a hearings panel before making a final recommendation to the Council.

Read the draft strategy document.