The council will decide at a public meeting today whether to accept David Parker’s recommendations, which were spawned from an investigation into the council regarding some of its water work.
His recommendations require the council to review many of its policy plans and create a new plan change regarding deemed water permits.
The direction was welcomed by chairwoman Marian Hobbs.
Most councillors support the minister’s direction, but
Kate Wilson, Michael Laws and Kevin Malcolm said they would save comment until the debate today.
Cr Alexa Forbes said she did not want to push back on the minister’s direction.
‘‘There’s a huge opportunity to look at a lot of the things that we do.’’
However, she acknowledged the burden on irrigators of temporary short-term water consents.
Cr Michael Deaker said the minister’s direction was the way forward.
‘‘It’s going to be substantial and expensive, but we’ve got to manage it.’’
Cr Gretchen Robertson said she supported the minister’s decision.
Cr Hilary Calvert said the minister’s approach was ‘‘not the proper way’’ of going about things as he was ‘‘demanding’’ rather than asking.
However, on a practical level the council did not have much choice but to agree.
Cr Carmen Hope said the council needed to ‘‘get on with it’’.
‘‘We’ve been given guidance; we’ve got to crack on.’’
Cr Bryan Scott said he respected the minister’s direction.
‘‘It gives a framework for us to get on with it. It’s all about getting our house in order.’’
Cr Gary Kelliher said he would abstain from voting as he was an affected permit holder.
However, as a councillor, he was getting ‘‘a lot of concerned phone calls’’ about the issue.
‘‘There are very strong concerns coming from water users that are calling me. All they’re trying to get is certainty.’’
National Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean said Mr Parker was ‘‘hanging Otago farmers and water users out to dry’’ while pushing his own freshwater management agenda.
“David Parker has effectively thrown out almost two years of consultation and hard work by both the Otago Regional Council and local farmers, as he pushes his own agenda and renders the council impotent.
“The minister is effectively riding roughshod over the farming community, cutting across the rights of Otago farmers and the due process of the council.
His actions were ‘‘unheard of’’ and would have huge ramifications in the region, she said.
