Water changes ‘front-footed’

Environment Southland says it is well placed to meet Government expectations after Environment Minister David Parker announced a raft of changes to improve water quality this week.

Parker’s announcement included increased Resource Management Act powers and regulation of some intensive farming practices which he said would result in markedly better water quality by 2023.

The changes include action and investment in at-risk catchments, a new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management by 2020, new National Environmental Standard for Freshwater Management, amendments to the Resource Management Act to more quickly implement water quality and quantity limits, strengthening enforcement tools for improving environmental compliance, and making decisions on how to manage allocation of nutrient discharges.

Environment Southland acting director of policy and planning Michael Durand said while the council did not have a lot of detail around the announcement, it believed the direction it was taking with the proposed Southland Water and Land Plan and the People, Water and Land programme meant the region was well placed to meet Government expectations.

‘‘The . . . announcements will make no immediate difference to the plan, but there are likely implications further down the road, and we will be reviewing all the released information to ensure we are front-footing any changes as much as possible.’’

The proposed Southland Water and Land Plan is going through an appeals process.

‘‘The current version . . . outlines how we implement the existing National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and any significant changes to this will require a plan change as outlined by the Resource Management Act, with the associated public consultation process.’’

But Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker said the proposed changes are ‘‘yet another attack on farmers’’.

Walker said his electorate relies heavily on winter grazing and the proposed policy had serious implications for farmers.