Principles for Board of Inquiry process agreed upon

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has agreed on the principles upon which to base its response to the Board of Inquiry, which continues to consider Tukituki Plan Change 6.

After High Court Appeals, a judge has referred one specific provision in Tukituki Plan Change 6 back to the Board of Inquiry for consideration and ruled the Board seek comments from all the parties on re-crafting the rule to make it more effective.

HBRC is preparing a response to the Board of Inquiry and presented a set of principles to yesterday’s Council meeting for discussion.

HBRC Interim Chief Executive Liz Lambert told councillors it was important to establish a set of principles to guide Council staff through the next stage of the process and as they prepare the response, which is due by 4pm today.

The principles emphasis that the rewritten condition needs to be readily understood and practical for users to implement. They also support the Board’s conclusion that the most important indicator of a healthy river is a vibrant aquatic life.

The principles also endorse the consents for the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme, which were confirmed by the High Court. Mrs Lambert says the Ruataniwha Scheme is an integral part of the water management strategy for the Tukituki catchment.

Some Councillors raised concerns around two principles in particular (Principles 3 & 4). The principles suggest the re-written condition should be based on existing evidence, rather than introducing new technical evidence, and that is should reflect the Board’s view that it is not appropriate to require individual farmers or applicants for consents to meet a nitrogen limit.

Councillor Debbie Hewitt said concerns by some councillors that HBRC had not attempted to sit down with groups such as Fish & Game and Forest and Bird are simply not true. She said there have been extensive discussions with them, including a specially set up Stakeholder Group.

Councillors voted 5-4 in favour of adopting the principles.

Meanwhile, lawyers for the Council, Forest and Bird, Fish and Game and the Primary Producers will meet tomorrow to see if they can reach common ground on the issues in contention.

On Monday the Board will reconvene at a public hearing at the War Memorial Centre in Napier with all submitters able to present.

ends

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