The Commissioners for Environment Canterbury take over the governance role on May 1 2010 and their first public meeting as Commissioners will take place on Wednesday May 5, at 10 am, Council Chamber, 58 Kilmore St, Christchurch.

The agenda will be available on the Environment Canterbury website on Monday morning, May 3.

"The Government has selected Commissioners with a broad base of skills and expertise to match the challenges facing Environment Canterbury," said Commissioner chairwoman Dame Margaret Bazley.

"A key task for the Commissioners is the completion of an operative plan for water in Canterbury. But we are also committed to ensuring work programmes across the organisation's portfolios proceed as planned."

Submissions on the regional council's annual plan close today at 4pm and meetings to hear from submitters will go ahead as planned on May 24, 25 and 26 in Christchurch and Timaru.