ECan has to keep its water promises
Winter in Canterbury means the centrepivot irrigators that seem long enough to stretch over the horizon have largely fallen quiet. But if the dry and mild weather continues they will be back in business before too long, spraying millions of litres of water across the region.
While they sit silent ahead of another growing season, their operators are being warned by Environment Canterbury (ECan) that any misuse or overuse of water allocations set by consents is likely to lead to ‘‘immediate intervention’’.
It appears, finally, that the regional council is going to get tough on those who take water they are not entitled to, after much criticism from the public, environmental groups and the Green Party for being too soft on wrongdoers.
Irrigating farmers have also received advance notice that ECan is about to clamp down on water metering. Hundreds of Canterbury farmers have not installed water meters, despite the passage of four years since the law required them to do so.
ECan chief executive Bill Bayfield says he does not think ‘‘anyone could contemplate starting the irrigation season this year without a functioning water meter in place’’. His comment implies it will be targeting this group of offenders as a high priority.
Many will be encouraged to discover the regional council appears to have found its mojo when it comes to policing of water use. But at this stage what ECan has done is pledge to toughen up on those who steal our most precious asset. Promises to change need to be followed up with action and those efforts monitored.
It has come under a great deal of pressure this year for its laissezfaire approach to compliance. It has been puzzling why ECan has been so reluctant to take a firmer line on protecting Canterbury’s water, whether by stopping cows trampling around the edges of lakes, illegal discharges to waterways from farms, or people simply taking more water than is legally theirs.
This softly-softly approach has acted as grist for the mill for those who still believe the Government’s sacking of elected councillors in early 2010 was motivated by a desire to appoint commissioners more in sympathy with dairying expansion.
Still, if ECan now says it is going to take a harder line, we should give the organisation a chance to fulfil its promise. Bayfield says rule-breakers have been given ‘‘their last warning’’ and all water users will be expected to show ‘‘full compliance’’ in the run-up to the irrigation season in October.
When it comes to actual prosecutions for breaching consents, it would be wise for the regional council to keep its powder dry and ensure any it takes are successful and set a precedent other potential water thieves really take notice of.