The Action for Healthy Waterways package includes a new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, National Environmental Standards for Freshwater, new stock exclusion regulations, and an amendment to the Resource Management Regulations 2010.
Otago Regional Council chairman Andrew Noone welcomed the new rules that came into force on Thursday.
“This package from the Government has been a long time in the works, and there is a lot of great intent around restoring and protecting the health of New Zealand waterways."
The challenge for the council and the community would be in implementing the new requirements, ensuring the outcome had the desired environmental benefits, he said.
"We’re looking closely at what is required of us and our region’s farmers, and prioritising the most urgent work.”
The regulations of the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater that came into force relate to intensive farming, protection of wetlands, excluding stock in new pastoral systems from waterways, feedlots, river reclamation and fish passage.
Some of the new rules would need to be addressed immediately, while others allowed more time.
Regulatory general manager Richard Saunders said staff were keen to assist farmers to understand and implement the changes.
"We will be taking an ‘education first’ approach to helping people implement the changes, and we’re working proactively with the community to ensure everyone understands the new requirements.”
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The ORC staff need to educate themselves on the other rules in their existing plans. As someone who sees a lot of their consent decisions most are wrong, unintelligible or unlawful. They are the source of much hilarity amongst their peers. Definately the most incompetent council in the south island.
An ‘education first’ approach. The new rules are only a few days old and already the message they are giving is that they have no intention of enforcing and prosecuting anyone.