The Otago region’s water users will now have at least five years before changes to consents occur.
Since legislation was passed in October 2024 preventing the notification of the draft Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP), the Otago Regional Council has been working with the government to find a way to provide some certainty for farmers and growers, and water permit holders until a new plan is in place.
The legislation prevented all regional councils from notifying freshwater planning measures before a new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPSFM) was published, or December 31, 2025, whichever came sooner, but several previously identified issues with the current plan could not be resolved through the new LWRP.
The regional council requested the government consider a legislative fix for these known issues, that would extend the expiry date of existing short-term water permits and override certain discharge provisions of the plan — providing short-term clarity for the region’s produce growers, primary producers and water permit holders.
The amendment will extend the duration of most existing short-term water permits for another five years, on the assumption that their expiry date will be after a new plan is put in place.
ORC chairwoman Gretchen Robertson said she was pleased the council had gained support from the government to address these known issues through a change in legislation.
"While this only provides some further short-term certainty for the Otago community it ensures we avoid unnecessary costs and regulation until new freshwater rules are in place."
Federated Farmers said the changes would spare thousands of farmers from needing an unnecessary resource consent just to keep farming.
RMA reform spokesman Mark Hooper said the changes were "just common sense".
"Without these urgent changes to the discharge rules under section 70 of the RMA, we would have been facing a ridiculous, expensive and totally unworkable situation.
"Thousands of farmers would have needed to go through the process of applying for a new resource consent, and ticking boxes, for absolutely no environmental gain."
Mr Hooper said councils would still be able to require consent for genuinely high-risk activities but would not be forced to do so when something such as a farm plan is a better option.
"Taking a risk-based approach is much more sensible — particularly when many farmers already have farm plans in place that will drive real environmental improvements." — Allied Media
