In 2010 the right-wing Key government sacked the democratically-elected Canterbury regional council and replaced them by commissioners chosen by the government – because the councillors weren't coming up quick enough with water permits for the dairy explosion.
Democracy
for Canterbury has been postponed until 2016, while the commissioners
are coming up with everything the government wants – by further
destroying the Canterbury environment.
Canterbury regional council structure could lead to problems: lobby group
Canterbury
environmental groups say the lack of a public vote on the make-up of
the regional council could lead to health and environmental problems
in the future.
10
October, 2013
Canterbury
Regional Council was sacked in May 2010, and replaced by Government
appointed commissioners who will remain in place until 2016.
Malvern
Hills Protection Society spokesperson Rosalie Snoyinik says the
appointed commissioners are approving new irrigation schemes that
increase the numbers of dairy cows on the Canterbury Plains.
"If
you get nitrate contamination of, especially groundwater, there is no
way that you can clean that up.
"And
so once we reach that point of no return, there's nothing we can do
about it, we'll just have to live with the pollution and find
alternative drinking water and that's going to be a very costly
exercise."
Water
Rights Trust member Murray Rodgers says the longer the commissioners
are in place, the more irrigation schemes will be approved, making it
increasingly difficult to improve the situation.
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