Water plan has get out of jail free clause for polluters

Fish & Game NZ is concerned that the recently released draft plan for managing water in the Hurunui/Waiau area affords polluters a ‘get out of jail free card’.

North Canterbury Fish & Game Officer Emily Moore points out that while the draft Zone Implementation Programme (ZIP) released this week by the Hurunui/Waiau Zonal Committee states nutrient limits must be set for rivers, if it will cost too much for the resource users then they don’t have to meet these limits.

“This will be very hard to judge. If a farmer has a large mortgage because they have overextended themselves then they can claim that any form of environmental management will be too expensive. Having this clause is essentially a ‘get out of jail free’ card for anyone who wants to use it,” says Mrs Moore.

“While Fish & Game realises that farming must be financially sustainable, it is essential that it is environmentally sustainable in the long term. We need to look at what will protect our finite water and environmental resources for future generations of farmers, anglers and all Cantabrians.”

Fish & Game believes the Government could address issues of farmer spending on environmental management by using the recently announced $435 million irrigation acceleration package for a contestable fund. Farmers could apply to this fund for help with things such as modern diary shed effluent treatment systems and field application.

“It would also be encouraging to see an equitable and ‘accelerated’ commitment towards funding the clean up of agriculture’s past and future adverse environmental impacts,” says Mrs Moore.

In addition, the organisation is concerned that the Hurunui/Waiau Zonal Committee has released the plan before it is even finished.

While the committee made strong recommendations for many water bodies, it has left out the ‘crux’ areas - namely Lake Sumner and the South Branch of the Hurunui - stating instead that “The Zone Committee will obtain more information on managing Lake Sumner for water storage.”

Mrs Moore says it goes against the principles of consultation to get people to submit on a plan that is not finished. “Will the Committee go back and consult once they have made their mind up about Lake Sumner and the South Branch? We very much doubt it.”

“This plan does not provide any clear guidance to Environment Canterbury, so the different parties will just have to continue slogging it out at hearings, which is what we were all trying to get away from with the development of the CWMS,” says Mrs Moore.

Fish & Game is encouraging people to attend one of the public meetings on the ZIP and have their say. Submissions on the daft plan close on June 3.