MEDIA RELEASE

July 10, 2013

ORC largely supportive of freshwater management reforms

Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Woodhead today welcomed the Government’s announcement that it will work with and support regional councils in the implementation of changes to freshwater management policy.

Environment Minister Amy Adams and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said today the Government has finalised the first stage of a plan to improve water quality and the way freshwater is managed.

The Government released a discussion document in March based on the recommendations of the Land and Water Forum and which gave effect to their core recommendations.

A new freshwater collaborative planning option will be created which will give communities and iwi a greater say in planning what they want for their local waterways and how they should be managed.

“This means that rather than a council drafting a plan and then asking for comment, a representative group of stakeholders drawn from the community will be able to work together on a plan,” the Ministers say.

“Getting agreement upfront in the planning process will mean fewer debates and less litigation further down the track, which will ultimately save time and money, and lead to better overall outcomes.”

Mr Woodhead said ORC was pleased to see the Government acknowledge that improving the freshwater management system will take time and resources, and that they will work with and support regional councils to implement changes.

“We are comfortable with the proposed introduction of an option for collaborative planning, as we have been using a range of community collaboration processes ourselves in recent years in relation to developing water allocation and minimum flow-setting and water quality plan changes,” he said.

“This has involved considerable discussion and liaison with stakeholders throughout our community who are interested in freshwater management.”

The ministers said a National Objectives Framework would be created, which will guide council decision-making regarding the levels to which different catchments should be managed, and to assist them in prioritising catchment planning.

“The framework is a key tool and getting it right is imperative,” Mr Woodhead said.

“ORC will welcome formal consultation on the details of the regulations that will be developed following the passing of the legislation.”

“We are already having to implement the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management. It is important that the changes to current policy are aligned with and support this work programme.”

Mr Woodhead said his only criticism of the announcement was that the Government had not at this stage looked at the process for imposing water conservation orders and the way these orders fit within regional planning.

“Water conservation orders are an outdated mechanism, and have been superceded by the RMA,” he said.

ENDS