Getting flipping serious at Lake Clearwater
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
“The time for talking is over and that time for action is now”.
That is how Ashburton District Council strategy and policy manager, Toni Durham, summed up the view of those involved in the Lake Camp and Lake Clearwater 30-year plan.
The council has adopted the 30-year plan that aims to reverse the degradation of Lake Clearwater/Te Puna a Taka, protect the character of the area, and ensure collaboration to achieve it.
Reports show that Lake Clearwater/ Te Puna a Taka is currently in a fragile state and its water quality is declining to the point that it is at risk of flipping, meaning it could reach a point of degradation that is difficult to reverse.
If the lake flips, it will have severe impacts on biodiversity, and the overall environmental health and recreational values of the area.
The 30-year plan is focused on ensuring that doesn’t happen and Durham said the challenge is the conflicting issues of the various parties, but they all have one goal.
“You have different values from different stakeholders but that’s actually the complexity with the entire area,” Durham said.
“Everyone is using it for different purposes.
“But the ultimate long-term goal is to protect the water quality.”
The plan’s purpose is to ensure appropriate action is taken promptly and it will guide funding decisions for annual budgeting processes.
Four goals are outlined and the actions that are planned to be undertaken to achieve them.
In preparing the plan, the consultation process received 153 submissions, of which 53% were bach owners.
The development of the plan also utilised work undertaken by Ōtūwharekai (Ashburton Lakes) working group, which includes members from iwi, local and central Government departments, and surrounding landowners.
While the council has signed off its 30-year plan for Lake Camp/ Ōtautari and Lake Clearwater/Te Puna a Taka, the Ōtūwharekai working group is developing an action plan for Ōtūwharekai which is expected to be completed by June 2023.
The goals in the plan are:
1: Avoid further degradation and restore the mauri (physical and spiritual elements) of the natural area.
2: Recognise and protect the area’s special character.
3: Recognise and value the areas social importance.
4: Ensure collaboration with mana whenua and between key stakeholders to meet a collective vision.
Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
Do you think drivers should be required to take a quick driving theory test every 10 years?
Vote in the poll and share any road rules that you've seen bent! 😱
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48.2% Yes
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49.8% No
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1.9% Other - I'll share below
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Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
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