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Timaru public meeting

15 February 2005

Questions/issues raised

  • Need to identify water storage sites for future of all uses/options. Central government should provide funding for the infrastructure needed. There seems to be a feeling of 'anti-storage' from government.
  • Water quality is at risk.
  • Need science based information on water quality and quantity and also on process.
  • Central Government has shown a lack of leadership.
  • Existing consent holders need certainty and protection.
  • There are risks associated with auctioning or tendering - real concern around this concept.
  • Water is in renewable cycle.
  • Need a broader perspective on efficiency - not just water, include capital, labour etc.
  • One size does not fit all - need to fit quality solutions for the purpose.
  • Urban issues are important too.
  • Decision making should occur locally as they know the issues and understand the impacts.
  • There is a lack of consistency in judicial rulings.
  • Allocation of water to highest value use should be market based as much as possible.
  • Take out Water Conservation Order processes - they are limiting to the national interest/balance.
  • There are problems with the submission processes.
  • There isn't a water allocation problem - there is enough water to go round, we just can't get access to it.
  • What role does Central Government have under the RMA? What role does it need?
  • Standards will not work - need to look at catchments.
  • Regional plans are in place so no other plans are required.
  • No national guidance is needed.
  • Who will make the decisions on the high and low values of water? How can you compare competing uses?
  • Minimum flows do not always protect.
  • National standards are needed about parameters.
  • Water bodies of national importance - the values need to be broader - the options are loaded.
  • Efficiency of use of water needs to be encouraged for all. There needs to be education around this.
  • Value the use of water through benefits, value through the property.
  • Must use economics for the balance of allocation for any use.
  • Comparison of uses must look at all the costs involved.
  • Need to agree on environmental standards to fix what we have.
  • Water is a public resource - it belongs to no-one.
  • Why have these discussions? It is the same issues and the same people.
  • Birds are a problem and cause water quality problems in Ashburton River .
  • Is water quality any different now to 100 years ago? Testing is fairly recent.
  • Water schemes need a power coy/scheme involved as a partner to make them viable.
  • New Zealanders are useless from a resource-use perspective.
  • Concerns with Meridian having the monopoly over water in the Canterbury region.
  • Central government needs to focus on the recycling of water.
  • This forum threatens the consent period investment.
  • No one will develop anything if the rules change.
  • Need to move water to where it is needed.
  • First in first served is a good process it protects investment.
  • Lots of effort is going into protection but not enough is going into development. Central government needs to develop a long term strategic approach.
  • Funding would be good to help support and clear RMA obstacles.
  • Guidelines must be flexible.
  • Need better law; the current system is not good. It doesn't encourage efficiency of use.
  • There should be a better balance between national and local needs. Local needs are not as well supported as they should be.
  • Ngai Tahu must be included in the equation. We are a multicultural society, we need to understand that and work with it.
  • There is only a small percentage of farmers stuffing it up for everyone else - we want to leave the land in a better position than when we first had it.
  • Need a better plan for water management - it is ad-hoc at the moment, this will require help from central government but the local knowledge is in the region.
  • Don't throw the whole system out and start again.
  • Don't want tendering and auctioning of water.
  • The tools are there they just need to be used properly and enforced.
  • Concern about Central Government setting the priorities for water bodies of national importance.
  • Concern was raised over the cost of change. Need to keep in mind that changes takes time as well.
  • Water should be left in the catchments - need to look after own communities first.
  • Concern that the government will override local communities - need good local solutions.
  • Do not want a charge on water itself - will pay the service cost relating to infrastructure.
  • Need help in setting allocation limits.
  • The value of a property sits around the water right.
  • Look to overseas for examples of solutions- don't reinvent the wheel.
  • Central government should stay out; they should provide basic rules only and leave the decisions to the regions.
  • Every user should be charged at the same rate.
  • More research is needed.

Solutions

  • To be successful there needs to be buy-in from the rest of society not just farmers and users.
  • National Policy Statements need to be high level. They should list the factors to be considered at the local level and locals should then determine the balance.
  • Government departments should work together to develop one view into submissions.
  • Need to bring together science and other experts to reach consensus.
  • There are gaps in the current funding system which need to be sorted.
  • There needs to be a better profile in government for agriculture.
  • The adversial process in the RMA needs to be addressed.
  • Use nuclear power (north of Auckland ).
  • We need better urban solutions i.e. look at discharges and urban efficiency.
  • Water from treatment plants could be used back up stream for irrigation.
  • Solutions must be consistent.
  • Cost of electricity generation must be changed to reflect the cost of delivery.
  • Where central government must get involved they must come with money.
  • Compliance costs must be reduced and the systems must be simplified and made more efficient.
  • Assess the whole resource and what it might be used for - need broad criteria for importance.
  • There needs to be partnership between central and local government.
  • Need funding to cover building infrastructure - communities could then lease it back.
  • Need more expertise at the local government level.
  • Decisions about water use should be left to the farmer at property level.
  • Should meter and log water use.
  • Should look at water and catchment together - take an integrated management approach.
  • Need a new consent that allows on farm storage at high flows - needs to be incentives for this.
  • Consent duration should be longer than 35 years.
  • National standard for water quality would be useful.
  • Need to focus on water harvesting and storage.
  • Tools to understand the values of water are needed - the community should determine these values.

Last updated: 25 November 2008