Warning over new river rules
BNZ warnsfarm values could ‘‘destabilise’’ under a plan to improve water quality on the Waikato and Waipa rivers.
Farmers and horticulture growers from Taupo to Port Waikato are facing a range of tough new land restrictions as part of the Healthy Rivers project designed by the Waikato Regional Council and Waikato and Waipa River iwi.
A proposed draft plan will make it difficult for land use to be changed, which has farmers and growers concerned their land values could be impacted.
The plan would also ban stock from waterways and require all rural property owners in the catchment area to submit detailed environmental plans to the council.
BNZ head of agribusiness John Janssen said in a letter to Waikato Regional Council chief executive Vaughan Payne, that as one of the country’s biggest rural lenders, the bank had ‘‘significant concerns’’ regarding the land use changes.
‘‘Putting this moratorium in place before any public consultation process has been conducted could cause uncertainty that could potentially destabilise farm land values at a time when rural communities are already confronting challenges,’’ Janssen said.
Asked about the letter on Wednesday, Janssen said while the bank supported the rivers clean up, it would like the time and opportunity to contribute to public consultation.
The 80-year plan is designed to make the two rivers safe for swimming and food gathering along their entire lengths and the work is required by the legally binding Crown-iwi Te Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato.
Payne said declining water quality in the rivers had been a public concern for a number of years and the council had an obligation to restore and protect the rivers.
Over the last 21⁄2 years the council had tasked 24 people representing a range of groups and sectors to provide guidance on regulation to protect the rivers and control intensification of land in the catchment.
The plan changes would make it difficult, but not impossible for landowners to be awarded a resource consent to undergo land use changes, he said.
About 1 million hectares of land falls into the affected catchment area.