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Environment Canterbury's long-term plan will be open for public consultation from next month. (File photo)
At a meeting on Thursday, regional councillors voted to send the plan out for public consultation, which will begin next month.
All 14 councillors, along with two Ngāi Tahu representatives, gave speeches outlining their views on the proposals.
Cr Peter Scott, also the deputy chair, said residents were surprised by the headline numbers and a majority were angry and annoyed.
But the changes were just proposals and “a lot of water [has] got to go under the bridge” before final decisions were made, he said. He urged residents with concerns to get in touch with him.