Freshwater rules not fixed and final

[Brent George]

The Government's new rules to protect freshwater quality will be “tweaked” to accommodate regional differences in weather and other factors, Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor says.  However, he accepts it will put more costs on to ratepayers and councils.

The West Coast-Tasman MP was responding to comments from West Coast Regional Council Chairman Allan Birchfield and immediate Past-National President of Federated Farmers Katie Milne, who said the new rules were draconian and in some cases unworkable on the Coast.

Regional Council staff have also flagged increased costs because the new freshwater regulations will involve more mapping, monitoring, resource consent and compliance work – meaning the council will have to take on more staff.

Stuff - National: 11-Sept-2020

[Brent George]

Funding to help farmers meet new environmental rules.
Stuff - National: 8-Oct-2020

Government funding to help farmers and councils deal with new environmental rules is "nowhere near enough" to cover the costs, West Coast Regional Council chairman Allan Birchfield says.

The Government recently announced $50 million to support the implementation of freshwater and biodiversity standards around the country.

But Birchfield says that is a drop in the bucket, given the size of the job.

His council – which collects about $2.2m a year in rates – has estimated it will cost about $4m just to set up the planning and monitoring regime needed to put the new system in place, and it will have to take on more staff.