A Values-based Approach to Sustainably Managing Christchurch's Waterways and Wetlands Research Completed

Title

A Values-based Approach to Sustainably Managing Christchurch's Waterways and Wetlands

Lead Author

Watts, R. H., Greenaway, R. J.

Organisation(s)

Christchurch City Council

Publication Year

Unknown

Publisher

Christchurch City Council

Contacts

Water Services Unit, Christchurch City Council, PO Box 237, Christchurch Mail Centre, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand

 

Abstract

A 1996 amendment to New Zealand’s Local Government Act 1974 required local authorities to complete asset management plans. This required the identification and locating of all assets owned and operated by local authorities, condition and performance assessments, and the definition of accurately costed levels of service for all service delivery activities. It became clear in Christchurch that commonly accepted infrastructural asset management approaches threatened to undervalue or ignore assets with natural or social values. Values change over time and vary from person to person. They become fluid when a variety of management viewpoints are adopted simultaneously. For example, our waterways need to retain capacity to drain land on one hand, but function as a natural ecosystem on the other. An approach to asset management was developed that involved an assessment of existing asset condition based on relevant values. The values identified was landscape, ecology, recreation, culture, heritage and drainage. The monetary cost of achieving the desired asset condition was determined from quantifying activities such as land purchase, planting and maintenance. By coupling clearly costed management activities with the achievement of social and natural values, sustainable management objectives become implementable.

 

Keywords:

Christchurch, Waterways; wetlands; asset management; land drainage; sustainability; social and natural values, Rivers, Lakes, Recreation.

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Added

June 21, 2012