Ashburton councillors debated the merits of its new climate change policy just a week ahead of a report by the Auditor-Genereal on the topic.

The Auditor-General says councils need clear climate strategies with strong community engagement, and robust reporting to meet the challenges posed by a changing climate,

In his report released this week, the Auditor-General looked at how four councils – Environment Canterbury, Christchurch City, Nelson City, and Whanganui District – have responded to the local impacts of climate change.

Auditor-General John Ryan said managing the impacts of climate change requires all councils to have a long-term commitment to clear climate strategies and plans, and effective governance arrangements.

The report comes a week after the Ashburton District Council voted to develop a new climate change and sustainability strategy.

It will replace two existing documents: the climate change policy and the climate resilience plan.

Deputy Mayor Liz McMillan said a stronger focus on climate change and sustainability is important for the Ashburton District.

McMillan said people seem to get scared of the words climate change.

“It’s not just about that, it’s about sustainability as well. I think it’s really important.”

The council chamber sits in a Te Whare Whakatere, the new library and civic centre, which was built “with a focus on sustainability”.

“I think we need to look at the rest of the district in that way,” McMillan said.

Mayor Neil Brown disagreed, believing it didn’t need a strategy when the existing policy was more than adequate and “covered in other areas”.

Councillor Lynette Lovett said it could lead to more rules and regulations, and “cost to the ratepayer”.

Lovett said the focus should be on simple actions rather than creating a “structure at the top”.

“There is a lot we can do in the climate space – stop putting all these concrete pavements down and black roofs on houses.”

Councillor Phill Hooper said there would be community expectation to have a climate change strategy.

The majority supported developing a strategy, with Brown and Lovett voting against it.

Democracy and engagement group manager Toni Durham said a strategy is not enforceable and has no regulatory framework involved.

Resourcing any actions will go through the regular planning process, meaning any funding decisions ultimately sit with the council she said.

The council’s first climate change policy was adopted in 2019 and included key goals and principles for the council’s climate change response.

The policy was reviewed in 2022 when the climate resilience plan was also adopted, outlining actions around climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Both were due for review in 2025, but will now be replaced by a strategy.

The council already committed to being a part of the Canterbury Climate Partnership Plan earlier this year, which has been adopted by the Canterbury Mayoral Forum.

By Jonathan Leask