This brings the council’s time limit for notifying its plan into line with planned policy changes, as the National-led coalition government’s Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms shake up the sector.
The council has yet to decide on its next move following the new 2027 deadline.
Ms Simmonds informed the council of the extension in a letter to ORC chairwoman Cr Gretchen Robertson and deputy chairman Cr Lloyd McCall yesterday ahead of the government’s plans to change the national policy statement for freshwater management (NPSFM).
"The extension will enable time to replace the NPSFM and for all councils to then align and update their plans.
"To allow ORC time to align the proposed land and water regional plan with the new NPSFM and in accordance with the new 2027 deadline set for all councils, I therefore extend the notification date of your plan to 31 December 2027."
Timing the notification of the plan has been a controversial issue for the council.
Last month, Cr Robertson, Cr McCall and senior council staff met Ms Simmonds, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop, and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay to discuss how the new government’s plan to update the NPSFM would affect the council’s land and water plan still under development.
After this meeting, the council voted 8-4 not to delay the upcoming notification of its plan, five years in the making.
In 2019, the previous environment minister recommended that the council notify a new regional plan to manage freshwater by December 31 last year.
This deadline was then extended to June 30 this year.
In yesterday’s letter, Ms Simmonds said if notifying the plan ahead of the NPSFM was still a consideration for the council, she would like to learn more.
She asked the council to provide an outline of the costs, benefits, and implications of notifying its plan before the NPSFM was replaced by May 1.
Cr Robertson said yesterday the council would consider the letter as part of its scheduled full council meeting in Dunedin on March 27, when it discussed the work programme for the proposed land and water plan.
Council chief executive Richard Saunders said the council acknowledged the minister’s request to provide further information if it chose to notify a new plan ahead of the new date.
Staff were unable to comment further until councillors had the opportunity to discuss the letter.
