Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Canterbury council decision expected in weeks

Updated at 6:39 am on 18 March 2010

A decision on the future of the Canterbury Regional Council is only weeks away, as the Government's consultation with organisations that work with the council concludes.

Local Government Minister Rodney Hide and Environment Minister Nick Smith have spent six weeks talking to groups and local councils in the Canterbury region as they try to decide how to address systemic problems identified in the regional council.

Those problems were highlighted by a Government review which recommended urgent action and the removal of the regional councillors.

The Government is considering that, and the suggestion a commissioner be appointed to help the council manage water allocation issues.

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