No plan to sack ORC councillors
ENVIRONMENT Minister David Parker says he is not about to fire Otago regional councillors.
The minister confirmed his view yesterday as councillors offered mixed reactions to a critical review of the council’s performance by Prof Peter Skelton.
Prof Skelton’s followup investigation of the council on behalf of Mr Parker found no cause for the environment minister to take the pressure off the Otago Regional Council despite tight deadlines for it to notify its land and water plan.
Instead, the former chief freshwater commissioner for New Zealand found that staff and councillors were at odds over whether there was a need for an extension.
Prof Skelton then went further to allege councillors were at times unwilling to accept staff advice.
His report, published on Monday, revisited a decision not to note minimum flows to determine water take limits for the Manuherikia River a year ago.
It was hard to accept councillors were simply looking to bolster the science behind the forthcoming plan and not delay the process, he said.
His findings led to Mr Parker not only reaffirming his original deadline — Otago’s land and water plan must be notified by the end of next year — but also expressing concern councillors were not making decisions on freshwater issues despite being supported by the appropriate level of scientific evidence.
Under the shadow of Mr Parker taking further steps against the council, councillors have dramatically raised rates over the past two years as the organisation undergoes massive change to meet the higher standard set for it after Prof Skelton’s first investigation in 2019.
The council suffered a setback in recent weeks when a High Court judgement found its proposed regional policy statement could not, in its entirety, be put through a new fasttracked freshwater process as planned.
Mr Parker gave the council until September 30 to renotify the parts of the regional statement that were appropriate for the new process.
Nevertheless, the plan it supported, the land and water plan, had the same deadline as set after Prof Skelton’s first report three years ago, he said.
Councillors yesterday largely criticised Prof Skelton’s investigation report, while a minority called it fair.
Cr Gary Kelliher said the report only reflected what Prof Skelton was told by those he chose to talk to at the council.
‘‘He didn’t interview councillors and after his Zoom meeting with councillors to discuss his concerns, staff acknowledged he had misinterpreted them, but then his report doesn’t reflect that.
‘‘Why let the facts get in the way of another chance to publicly attack the ORC governance, I guess.’’
Cr Hilary Calvert said Prof Skelton had been ‘‘poorly advised’’ as to what councillors were deciding for the Manuherikia River last year.
She also accused Mr Parker of bullying and said he should focus on getting the rules he made for the council fit for purpose.
Cr Kate Wilson remained convinced more public engagement would produce a better land and water plan.
She was disappointed Mr Parker had not met councillors.