Ratepayers to face ‘astronomical costs’

Simon Davies. PHOTO: RICHARD DAVISON
Simon Davies. PHOTO: RICHARD DAVISON
A "secretive" Otago Regional Council is about to foist "astronomical costs" on to unaware ratepayers, Federated Farmers says.

The farming advocacy group wrote to the regional council, local mayors and government ministers this week calling for urgent transparency around the council’s forthcoming land and water plan.

The costs associated with the council’s proposed implementation of Te Mana o te Wai would result in "astronomical costs".

They could "quickly add up to a multibillion-dollar cost for the region and an unconscionable burden on local ratepayers".

"Confidential information has been provided to Federated Farmers by concerned district council personnel that suggests the costs will be more than $110 million for just two small Otago towns.

"For those communities the cost equates to more than $50,000 per residential ratepayer."

Wastewater treatment plants might need to be replaced as proposed rules would prevent treated water being discharged into waterways.

National environmental bottom lines would be unachievable, it said.

"Unfortunately, this information is coming to us second-hand due to the secretive nature of the consultation process."

The council denied the claims of secrecy but acknowledged "concerns expressed around the possible costs".

Councillors remained divided on the issues raised — calls for government intervention continued from one side of the debate while the other called the Federated Farmers letter misleading.

Toko Mouth farmer and former Federated Farmers Otago president Simon Davies said the council needed to enable "informed" consultation.

"All we’re asking for and pushing for is transparency so that we can have an honest discussion."

Chief executive Richard Saunders said the council had "completed significant engagement with Federated Farmers and a wide range of other parties" with a stake in the plan.

"It has not been a secretive process.

"We acknowledge the concerns expressed around the possible costs.

"We are unable to comment in detail about the costs associated with wastewater compliance but will continue to liaise with territorial authorities as the process continues."

Chairwoman Cr Gretchen Robertson said the plan was about "seeing change as opportunity, future proofing and achieving our shared vision of good water — both urban and rural".

Despite calls from government ministers to delay notification of its plan until new national policies were in place, in March councillors directed staff to prepare the plan for notification by October 31.

As a result, the council was required to report to Environment Minister Penny Simmonds in May the "costs, benefits and implications" of their decision.

Yesterday, on behalf of Ministers Chris Bishop, Simeon Brown and Todd McClay, Ms Simmonds said Federated Farmers had highlighted "exactly" the concerns she sought assurances from the council it was aware of.

"It is critical that they take these concerns into account, before making a decision to proceed with notifying their plan, ahead of the timing that the government is asking of them, and ahead of incorporating changes the government is undertaking."

Cr Gary Kelliher said seven councillors were "bulldozing" the plan forward and were determined to continue with a "misguided destruction of the rural economy".

"I am begging the new government to clearly direct a delay and then clearly direct a more balanced approach."

Cr Kevin Malcolm said "Federated Farmers’ anxiety is real".

"Minister Simmonds needs to take action."

Cr Michael Laws said he opposed the plan "on countless occasions because of its adherence to non-scientific values" found in its application of Te Mana o Te Wai.

Cr Andrew Noone said there were still several important steps for the council to take, including producing a section 32 report.

"Impacts, costs and affordability is all part of this process."

Cr Bryan Scott said "the draft plan is already a compromise".

"Many of the outcomes are not required to be achieved until 20 or 25 years time."

If it were indeed the case that the cost to implement Te Mana o Te Wai would be billions, the cost to not implement it would be "exponentially higher", Cr Alexa Forbes said.

Cr Alan Somerville agreed.

"If we don’t take steps to protect and restore our natural environment and resources, the costs to community health and wellbeing and to our economy will be far greater in the long run."

Cr Elliot Weir said there would be significant costs involved "although the figures cited in the letter are very misleading".

"Frankly, scapegoating iwi values and complaining about our partnership comes across as divisive and bitter."

Cr Tim Mepham said Federated Farmers had been involved in the development of the plan over the last five years.

"They are not in the dark."

hamish.maclean@odt.co.nz

 

 

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