The Otago Regional Council is again asking Environment Minister David Parker for an extension for its land and water plan.
The comprehensive plan setting new rules and regulations for Otago waterways is due to be notified by the end of the year.
In a closed-door meeting last week the council decided to ask Mr Parker for six more months.
In a statement, the council said difficulty implementing a High Court decision around its preceding planning document, the proposed regional policy statement, and science staff being pulled away from working on the plan to deal with drought-related work had "contributed" to the decision.
Council chairwoman Gretchen Robertson declined to release the report councillors considered, or how councillors voted.
The last time the council asked for an extension for its land and water plan, the decision to do so was made in a public meeting.
Cr Robertson did not answer what was different this time.
Last year, the council’s extension request was declined.
When then-chairman Cr Andrew Noone asked Mr Parker for more time it was in part because the proposed regional policy statement was tied up in High Court proceedings between the council and Forest & Bird.
Some councillors argued further consultation was required.
Mr Parker’s involvement in the council’s land and water plan dates back to 2019.
He ordered an investigation into the council and the investigator, former chief freshwater commissioner for New Zealand Prof Peter Skelton, found the council’s plans to protect the region’s freshwater were not up to the task.
The council agreed to notify a new land and water plan that covered all the catchments within the region by December 31 of this year.
Last year, when the council asked for an extension, Mr Parker ordered a follow-up investigation by Prof Skelton.
His follow-up investigation found no reason for the council to need an extension.
He indicated staff said their work was on track to meet the timeframes set by the minister even with the High Court decision that forced the council to separate its regional policy statement into both freshwater and non-freshwater sections.
Hearings for the non-freshwater parts are entering their fourth week and are scheduled to run for 11 weeks.
However, in his August report Prof Skelton signalled a future request for an extension might have merit.
"If the [regional policy statement] process raises further complications there may be merit in considering an extension, and I expect that would become clearer in early 2023," Prof Skelton said.
The council did consider options other than applying for an extension, Cr Robertson said in a council statement.
The council needed more time to consider the consultation it had already completed and it needed time for a final consultation round, "which subject to an extension being granted will occur later in 2023", she said.
Drought conditions in Otago had also resulted in four science staff members being taken off the land and water plan programme to support the council’s response.
If the Ministry for Primary Industries declared a drought officially, more staff could be required, she said.
A spokesman for Mr Parker said the minister would reserve comment until he had formally received the request from the council.
