Some councillors yesterday called the plan change unfair; it was also claimed to lack scientific backing — and yet for the majority of councillors, it was the way forward.
‘‘This is not a time to be nervous,’’ Cr Bryan Scott said as the council continued to progress its water plans to meet Environment Minister David Parker’s call last year for a fit-for-purpose planning framework for Otago to be operative in five years.
Contrary to the wishes of council chief executive Sarah Gardner, who at yesterday’s meeting warned against it, the vote to publicly notify the council’s water permits plan change was held in a public session.
The council voted 6-4 to adopt a plan change for interim water consents that fast-tracks new six-year consents for expiring water permit holders (or puts the burden on those asking for longer consents to prove their water use would not degrade Otago waterways) and an accompanying evaluation required under Section 32 of the Resource Management Act 1991.
Councillors then voted 7-3 to publicly notify both on March 18 — which will bring the new rules into immediate effect.
Hours before the vote yesterday afternoon, the Auditor-general issued a decision that Crs Kate Wilson and Gary Kelliher — farmers who hold expiring permits — could not vote on the matter.
Fellow farmer Cr Andrew Noone said although it might surprise some, he would ‘‘reluctantly support’’ the plan change.
He said it was time for councillors to ‘‘show some leadership’’.
‘‘This council has said we don’t want to see degradation of water,’’ he said.
‘‘Somehow we need to move forward on this issue ... We need to send some certainty out into this community.
‘‘I am nervous — the community is nervous as well.
‘‘This is a big deal.’’
Scores of irrigators told the council at the start of January, its short-term direction would ‘‘destroy rural New Zealand’’.
In January, Cr Michael Laws said almost 60 deemed permit applications had already been given consents and 80% of those were for periods of 25 to 35 years.
Yesterday, he questioned the fairness for those who would now be forced into the short-term deal.
‘‘It’s not the farmers’ fault for this, it’s the Otago Regional Council’s.
‘‘It has nothing to do with those who were told, ‘wait until we get our act together’.’’
He said he was concerned the section 32 report would ‘‘fail when it strikes independent analysis’’.
The arguments for the plan change were based in ‘‘sentiment’’, and ‘‘assumption’’, and the ‘‘belief that farming is bad, and irrigation is worse’’.
‘‘The reason there is enormous nervousness ... we have made some spectacular assumptions not backed by science,’’ Cr Laws said.
He said the plan change was pitting agricultural interests against environmentalists’, and by moving ahead the council was ‘‘cementing’’ the division.
Chairwoman Marian Hobbs said successive national policy statements for sustainable management of water — in 2014, 2017 and now 2020 — were raising the bar.
She cautioned others against the hope a delay in the plan change could allow time for a change in government at a national level that could ease the current pressure on the council.
‘‘There are a lot of people in New Zealand who want to see healthy water, better farming,’’ she said.
And without this interim measure the council would create a long, costly process for individuals applying for consent.
‘‘You may well be left without any right to water,’’ she said.
‘‘This could go on forever at huge cost.’’
The council voted last month to ask Mr Parker to exercise his authority to ‘‘call in’’ its proposed plan changes and, after notification and submissions, refer them directly to either the Environment Court or to a board of inquiry.
The votes
To adopt the water permits plan change and the section 32 report (6-4)
For: Crs Michael Deaker, Alexa Forbes, Marian Hobbs, Andrew Noone, Gretchen Robertson and Bryan Scott
Against: Crs Hilary Calvert, Carmen Hope, Michael Laws and Kevin Malcolm
To approve the water permits plan change and the section 32 report for publicnotification on March 18 (7-3)
For: Crs Michael Deaker, Alexa Forbes, Marian Hobbs, Kevin Malcolm, Andrew Noone, Gretchen Robertson and Bryan Scott
Against: Crs Hilary Calvert, Carmen Hope and Michael Laws
Did not vote: Crs Kate Wilson & Gary Kelliher
