Officials are preparing advice for ministers on how to work around the unintended consequences of blocking Otago’s new plan for water management.
A spokeswoman for Environment Minister Penny Simmonds confirmed a request from the Otago Regional Council had been received by Ms Simmonds, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay.
"Minister Bishop, minister McClay and minister Simmonds have received a letter from the Otago Regional Council seeking legislative amendments to override certain provisions of the Regional Plan: Water for Otago.
"The ministers have not yet responded, but advice is being prepared for them on the matter."
The government blocked a vote on the regional council’s land and water plan that would have replaced the regional plan in October last year.
Ploughing ahead with tough new rules ahead of a review of the underpinning national policy statement for freshwater management (NPSFM) would be a waste of ratepayers’ money, Ms Simmonds and other ministers said.
Last month, councillors were told without the new plan most of Otago’s 3300 farms could be forced to apply for resource consents for everyday farming activities when Plan Change 6AA provisions expired on April 1 next year.
Further, interim short-term consents that replaced historic gold-mining water permits — granted with the expectation a new plan would be in place — would also expire and new short-term consents could be required.
Accordingly, councillors wrote to the ministers to address the gaps in Otago’s planning framework.
Ms Simmonds’ spokeswoman said work on the replacement NPSFM continued.
Details of the consultation on the proposed changes to the NPSFM were expected to be released within the next two months, she said.
The changes to the NPSFM were expected be in place by the end of the year, she said.
