After lodging the lake opening joint consent with Christchurch City Council (CCC) in 2013, and a lengthy process to determine the best structure (bridge) for travelling over the canal and the hearing in December 2015, the Environment Canterbury commissioners have approved the lake opening and bridge consent for 35 years. The Commissioners recognise that it has been the canal that has had a positive effect on water quality. This is a land mark decision for Wairewa Rūnanga as we are now officially part of the lake opening process and, for CCC this is the first joint consent with mana whenua. We are now reviewing the conditions that have been placed on the consent, and whether to appeal or accept and move forward together with the CCC.
Lake Wairewa viewed from the hills above.
Marcopyhte beds on the lake.