Too Late for Water Harvesting?

ACT New Zealand Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff said today the Government's failure to review and modify the Resource Management Act is the biggest impediment to solving the continuing problem of water shortages during the summer months, especially in the South Island.

"The drought, currently gripping the east coast of the South Island and deemed by many to be the worst in 100 years, would not be so bad if the concept of water harvesting was acted upon years ago," Mr Eckhoff said.

"Farmers have decided that lengthy environment court battles along with massive legal costs has precluded them from water harvesting during the winter months. Who can afford the time, effort and cost to fight the Government funded environmental lobbyists?

"The Government however is quite prepared to step in with special legislation for energy generation and Auckland's traffic woes. Why not for essential water harvesting for the South Island?

"Fast-tracking resource consents for irrigation water storage would do more than Jim Sutton's `sustainable farming fund' and Jim Anderton's `regional development' lottery with taxpayers' money, combined," Said Mr Eckhoff.

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