The chairman of the ECan resigns pending an investigation

Environment The chairman of Environment Canterbury has resigned pending an investigation into recent media comments about his farming activities.

In a statement, the regional council said Cr. Peter Scott had decided to step aside while the investigation was conducted.

Deputy chairman Cr Craig Pauling will be acting chairman.

During a recent interview with Newstalk ZB, Cr. Scott that two of his own irrigation consent applications had been deferred by another government agency.

It meant he was operating “illegally,” he said.

A spokesperson for Environment Canterbury said the council was aware of the status of Scott’s consents.

“Sometimes consent applications can be delayed if third-party information is required, as is the case here.”

The research will be conducted by an independent external reviewer.

This is expected to take a number of weeks.

LDR is local journalism, co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air