The Building Amendment Bill No 4 proposes changes to the Building Act that would affect the safety management of dams and the powers of regional authorities in relation to dams.
Otago Regional Council environmental engineering and natural hazards director Gavin Palmer said at recent meeting the proposed changes would weaken dam safety and not address aspects of the Act that should be improved.
The dam safety scheme had been deferred by the Government twice in the past two years yet it was proposing changes with the "express purpose of reducing compliance costs for dam owners".
Among concerns were the definition of what was a "large" dam, the risk that dams could go unidentified, leaving downstream properties unaware of any danger, and proposed changes that were much more relaxed than in other countries.
The council was making a submission on its concerns including photographic examples of the variety of dams in Otago as well as those that had failed or nearly failed.
Cr Croot said the select committee almost needed a site visit to see Otago dams, although the pictures provided in the submission did tell a story.
With irrigation and water storage being encouraged by the Government, it was important these concerns were taken seriously, she said.
"It has to be right."
Cr Gerry Eckhoff said landowners could easily avoid the regulations by building a dam slightly smaller than the threshold.
"The consequence of this legislation, if it goes through, is they'll make it slightly smaller, yet the impact [if it fails] would be the same."
It was terribly important that politicians understood the issues, so the council should take its concerns to the Government's senior whip, Michael Woodhouse, a Dunedin MP.
Cr Trevor Kempton said the core frustration with the legislation was highlighted by the "dam" right next to State Highway 1, the railway line and the beach between Moeraki and Shag Point.
Cr Bryan Scott said the council had discussed dam safety issues many times but never seemed to get any traction.
"At what point do we say enough is enough? . . . When people die?"
Cr Michael Deaker said it had been a very long and frustrating episode but the proposed regulations "could be the game-breaker".
He hoped the "really good technical advice" the council was providing would make an impact on the select committee.
Chief executive Graeme Martin said the real issue if the proposals became regulations was the costs and the significant liability the council would have to carry.
There were two options - one was for the Government to take over the role relating to dams, or a cost-effective, workable set of regulations for regional councils and dam owners needed to be found.
The policy and submissions committee agreed to talk to the city's members of Parliament about their concerns and invite the select committee to visit Otago's dams.
