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New Plymouth public meeting

8 February 2005

Questions/issues raised

  • Rivers have multiple uses and needs including, sport, water levels, fish (water temperature), water wastage, availability of volume(s).
  • Education is important.
  • Are there road blocks to using Resource Management Act (RMA) tools?
  • Is local government equipped to deal with sustainability?
  • Unsure of central government directing local government - based on past experiences.
  • Questions around ownership are an issue.
  • Transfer of consents is a good place to start.
  • Need higher protection of use of water by local government.
  • Greater focus on town supply needed.
  • Concern that water resource will be sold overseas in bulk - sale of water is a very real issue of concern.
  • Don't approve of fluoridation and chlorination of water.
  • Economic tools aren't the best for community values.
  • Will transfer permits just be money and not solve problems?
  • What will central government add? Taranaki has locally sufficient tools.
  • Ecology is more important than economy.
  • Collaborative approach is ok but will it be talk and government doesn't take notice?
  • Taranaki is a good example of sustainable management.
  • No one disagrees with national policy statements.
  • Concern that all government departments make one submission on regional plans.
  • National Environmental Standards for water quality - How would the standard be set? If the standard is met, it should be flexible to have a higher standard.
  • Collaboration is essential.
  • Document does not address matters of conservation and efficiency of use.
  • Perception of farming is that it is dirty - this may or not be the case.
  • Storage of water - be good to save it rather than lose to sea. Would be interesting to address this issue.
  • Councils should promote green guides for water use.
  • Tools are available and are now being used by Ministry for the Environment - well done.
  • The document sets out a logical framework for debate.
  • Need to be proactive about the values of water - through education.
  • There is inconsistency between councils, even though the RMA is a common statute.
  • A standardised measurement is required to judge council performance.
  • There is a competence issue with local government.
  • Need to set priorities for water use nationally but need to recognise regional differences.
  • There should be consequences for water misuse.
  • Need incentives to use water more appropriately - make users pay.
  • The tools are available now.
  • There is a huge problem with getting a whole of government position when statute government departments have different focuses under law.
  • Organic or natural fertiliser consents regimes vary in New Zealand - this is a consultation issue. Cumulative environmental effects are an issue for fertiliser and wastewater. There needs to be standardisation of fertiliser application.
  • There should be shared responsibility and information for environmental management, eg, OSH versus Regional Council.
  • Should encourage the use of zero discharge policy - use overseas experience.
  • Should promote water reuse and recycling.
  • Water is chronically undervalued in New Zealand - there is no sensible market to set value.
  • Building Act does not allow water use efficiency (there is no ability to have bylaws to address some).
  • We have micro rather than macro water shortages - this is a planning and infrastructure issue.
  • The focus at the moment is on supply not demand.
  • There is a need for water metering - this has been highly effective in the United Kingdom , they have combined this with an education campaign as well.
  • Low income people may be marginalised if the regime changes too much.
  • Why has the document focused on sustainable development rather than sustainable management?
  • There is an issue with narrative versus quantitative standards for water quality.
  • Need to provide storage to lessen both the in stream and out stream effects on streams/rivers
  • The method setting minimum flows needs more science - Ministry for the Environment could play a role in this.
  • Water quality and water allocation are interrelated.

Solutions

  • Mandate allocation frameworks, freshwater plans and a disclosure regime for standardised reporting.
  • Mandate planning obligations.
  • Get more practitioners in MfE and in local government.
  • Define the national interest in water.
  • Need education and incentives, ie, use environmental programs in schools and in the wider community.
  • Need to agree on the value of water - look overseas and draw on their experience.
  • Standardise methodology for fertiliser application.
  • Need to address diffuse source runoff from farms.
  • Need to implement tools under the RMA properly.
  • Need to improve communications and consultation with stakeholders.
  • Riparian planting should be encouraged and subsidised.
  • Invest in good science.
  • Need proper interaction between agencies - an integrated management approach.
  • Review water conservation order provisions - need a more strategic approach.
  • Need to be careful with market instruments, ie, make sure that the market doesn't support negative behaviour.
  • Biodiversity values are understated and need to be recognised more so.

Last updated: 25 November 2008