However, what those changes were remained unclear and — despite the government signalling it did not need to — the council remained committed to notifying its land and water plan by the middle of this year, Cr Robertson said.
Yesterday, she reiterated the council’s call to meet ministers of the new government "at the earliest opportunity" to end the uncertainty.
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop late last year told councils the government was extending all council deadlines for regional plans until the end of 2027.
The council promptly issued a statement noting the extension did not apply to Otago.
Several days later, Mr Bishop confirmed to the Otago Daily Times that indeed it did.
The government would review and replace the policy document that provided councils with direction on how to manage freshwater, the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020.
Mr Bishop said the extension for regional plans was to allow time for this process to happen.
Meanwhile, for the past several years Otago has been under scrutiny from former environment minister David Parker.
In 2019, Mr Parker ordered an investigation of the council and subsequently declared its plan to protect freshwater not fit-for-purpose.
Since April 2020, the council has been providing six-monthly progress reports to the environment minister as it worked towards a land and water plan that aligned with the national direction provided in the national policy statement.
Those progress reports were due to continue until next year.
Now, the new environment minister, National’s Penny Simmonds, said whether those progress reports would continue to be required would be discussed at a meeting with the council, at a date yet to be confirmed.
"The ORC still has some pressures on it that are unique to the area," she said.
"We will be seeking to understand these better and the implications of a longer timeframe."
Yesterday, Cr Robertson said the council requested a meeting with both ministers to try to understand how the signalled changes to freshwater management would affect the council’s work "so that we can assess our programme and of course adapt if needed".
The council was keen to understand whether significant changes to the national policy statement for freshwater management could substantially change what was proposed in the council’s plan, she said.
"We’re keen to create as much certainty for our communities as we possibly can.
"The certainty a new land and water plan provides cannot be underestimated."
The present work programme was years long, included "high quality" science, thousands of volunteer hours as the council captured "visions, ideas and aspirations" of Otago’s communities, and it was on track for a notification date of July 1.
"Healthy freshwater is fundamental, it’s core work for both local and central government.
"This plan is important.
"For ORC it’s certainly not a race to an arbitrary completion date, it’s about addressing an inadequate current plan efficiently, effectively and with the interests of our communities at heart.
"There will be places we need to change and adapt certainly and we’re keen to work with government to develop a shared understanding and narrow these down.
"Nailing down what we can be certain about, from what is still evolving nationally, is important."
