ORC has concerns about water rules

NEW national freshwater regulations could ‘‘stifle innovation’’, cause a significant strain on resources and may be partly unworkable, the Otago Regional Council says.

The council has submitted on the Government’s action for healthy waterways proposals which are aimed at overhauling the protection of freshwater nationally.

The proposals were released last month and submissions close tomorrow.

The council said some measures were ‘‘rather prescriptive’’, and their rigid implementation could ‘‘stifle innovation or halt projects’’.

These included stock exclusion regulations, specifically those addressing land management.

This created a risk resources would be focused on ensuring compliance, rather than delivering good outcomes.

‘‘Many landowners, managers and industry representatives have expressed concern about how aspects of the proposal will affect their lifestyle, viability of their business and wellbeing.’’

Targets for dissolved inorganic nitrogen and dissolved reactive phosphorus might be difficult to achieve in some parts of the region, it said.

The council mentioned the regulations would require ‘‘significant increases’’ in its resourcing and investment in additional staff.

This could create a shortage of suitably qualified and experienced professionals to assist regional councils as well as individual landholders, industry and stakeholder groups.

However, it supported the overall intent of the proposal to improve the health of the region’s freshwater and welcomed the clarity in direction.

‘‘ORC recognises that, as a sector, we have not gone far enough, fast enough under current legislation, resulting in efforts falling short of the outcomes expected by our communities.’’

The Dunedin City Council will today decide whether to submit on the proposal.

In its draft submission the council was largely supportive, but raised some concerns such as potential effects on its ability to create stormwater piping and build and maintain roading infrastructure.