Council faces ‘horrendous’ costs
The ‘‘horrendous’’ cost of complying with a a proposed national policy has been highlighted by Waimate’s District mayor.
Craig Rowley told yesterday’s Waimate District Council environmental services and finance committee he ‘‘gets so worried about this stuff’’.
Councillors were discussing a draft submission on the proposed National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPSIB), which sets out how councils can help restore indigenous biodiversity and halt further decline and could cost the council more than $660,000 to implement.
The Government announced plans in November with an aim of enhancing the protection of 4000 threatened species.
"This stuff really worries me when you look at some of the possible costings,’’ Rowley said.
‘‘I don’t think we have the expertise to take on this stuff, the cost implications are horrendous.’’
More than 60 sites of known natural significance have been identified within the Waimate District, including the Waihao River, Waihao Box, Wainono Lagoon, Gunn’s Bush and the Waimate Gorge Bush.
In the submission Waimate District Council resource planner Kevin Tiffen said it would cost an estimated $661,000 to implement plan changes, leading to a 1 per cent rate increase over seven years.
‘‘This is the least cost scenario for the ... [council] but is likely to be more than this due to our larger district land area and the fact that our council will have to engage outside resourcing, which is expensive.’’
While Rowley raised concerns, he also acknowledged looming environmental issues.
‘‘We fully accept that we need to do better and protect indigenous biodiversity, but it needs to be prudent.
‘‘This could also bring some quite stringent restrictions for our farming community.’’
Rowley’s concerns were echoed by Tiffen in the submission.
‘‘Council has not carried out any detailed analysis at this time but are alarmed at the summary of costs of implementing the NPSIB as expressed in the evaluation and cost benefit analysis.’’
It indicated costs for scheduling SNAs between $590,000 and $1.95 million per council with additional development and revised provision costs of between $71,000 and $247,000 per council, Tiffen said.
Council chief executive Stuart Duncan said he was concerned about ‘‘the amount of pressure that is coming and the costs associated with it’’.
Deputy mayor Sharyn Cain said the policy would affect everyone.
Councils have until 2026 to map out their significant natural areas and until 2028 to implement the policy.