People's Mayor candidate Jim Anderton has outlined his policy to protect Christchurch's precious drinking water.
If elected Mayor, Jim pledges to ensure the aquifers are protected by initiating a change to the City Plan to restrict inappropriate development over the unconfined aquifers. Put a much stronger emphasis on the importance of protecting the supply and quality of drinking water. "I will also commission comprehensive research to fully understand the effects of taking water from the Waimakariri River on aquifers and spring fed rivers and what impacts that will have on the future of Christchurch's water supply".
Jim Anderton said: "Our water sources need protecting. This means both having and enforcing firm rules to ensure no farms, housing estates or business parks are allowed to threaten our critical water supply. We must preserve high quality water supplies for future generations and we need to get our policies right. The first step is to get our facts straight".
In addition, Jim Anderton vows to encourage water conservation by ensuring meters are read annually and information on comparative household water usage is fed back to all residents. I want to actively encourage everyone to save water and encourage and consult with the building industry on the practicality and cost of having a rainwater system or a combination rainwater-grey water system in new homes and building developments.
"We've all been told we must save water, but rarely how we can do it. My team is working on innovative solutions. There's too much water conversation and not enough water conservation going on right now", says Anderton.
Also we will work with our neighbouring districts of Waimakiriri and Selwyn to ensure developments requiring irrigation or drainage don't put an unsustainable strain on, or threaten our invaluable water resources.
"There's no point adopting an isolated approach to our water. We're reliant on the rivers so we've got to work with other councils to protect them. It is critical for our economy to find solutions that protect the quality as well as the supply of our precious water. It is not an infinite resource so we must make the best possible use of it while retaining sustainability of supply.
"It's important to understand that if we do nothing now, our water quality will eventually and inevitably deteriorate. We already face health risks because of increased nitrates in our drinking water and if we are not very careful we will end up having to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in the future drilling deep into the aquifers south west of Christchurch or directly extracting water from the Waimakariri and having to treat it", says Anderton.
[ For further information, phone Jim Anderton on 021 777 680 or Jacqui McCabe (campaign press secretary) on 021 251 1801 ]




Islay lives in Linwood. She loves the area and wants to restore the community and environmental values that once had Christchurch residents proud to live here.

Julie is a Correspondence School liaison teacher and has served as a deputy and acting principal at a local school. She wants to represent an area she has been part of for 40 years.

Karolin is an educator in the Human Rights Commission, a JP and a current community board member. Concerns are gaps between those who have and do not and the environment.




Tracey is a dynamic, energetic woman with several years of community involvement. She is willing to stand up for the underdog and speak for those who cannot speak up for themselves.




A board member for three years, Linda has a Community Service Award and is on Keep Christchurch Beautiful and Civil Defence. The environment and safe, happy communities are concerns for her.

Jasmin has strong experience working in the health sector. She is one of our youngest candidates and possesses a vibrant personality and a positive attitude.

Judy is a current Community Board member for the Riccarton - Wigram ward. She is involved in a number of other organisations for youth, education and the wider community.




