Small councils ‘not coping’
Local councils are hopeful the Government will help the regions combat the effects of climate change, following supportive recommendations from the Productivity Commission.
The commission recently released recommendations for the Government to help at-risk councils adapt to the impacts of climate change, and provide new funding to support infrastructure and tourism hotspots.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council chairman Rex Graham is hopeful the Government will ‘‘heed’’ the call, but Minister for Local Government Nanaia Mahuta said it won’t be a solution they’re going to go into ‘‘quickly or lightly’’.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern agreed with Mahuta, by saying: ‘‘These are very complex issues.’’
The lack of framework is proving to be an issue, with confusion over where the responsibility lies, Ardern said.
‘‘When we, for instance, have weather events that mean that old landfills wash down into rivers and across conservation land, these are things we are having to work through.’’
But they are aware these are issues they need to address.
‘‘We are at least acknowledging at both a central and local government [level] that these are issues that we’re going to face on an increasing basis,’’ Ardern said.
Mahuta added that a wider group of ministers, including Minister for Climate Change James Shaw, are developing a framework to work on a policy.
Graham said the Government has already been a big help for the regions in their fight against the threats of climate change.
But he added: ‘‘Some of the small councils aren’t coping . . . are already suffering.’’
The council has begun preparing for the inevitable and enacting change for the sake of the environment, but any additional help is ‘‘welcome’’.
Nicol Horrell, the chairman of Environment Southland Regional Council, mirrors that sentiment.
‘‘We would look forward to any help in that area,’’ he told Stuff.
He said Southland, much like the other regions, is asked to do more, ‘‘but the cheque doesn’t come with it’’.
He said ‘‘rates-based funding is inadequate to deal with some of the issues regions face’’.
Part of the commission’s report focused on councils using rating tools more effectively. This is an issue for regional farmers who pay large sums for council services distant from their farms.
‘‘Farmers need this resolved and we see potential in this report to achieve fairness,’’ Federated Farmers spokesman Andrew Maclean said.