Fish and Game Otago will take legal action against the Otago Regional Council if it is not consulted during consent processes.
The Fish and Game council yesterday voted unanimously to take legal action on an ORC change which means the regional council will no longer consult Fish and Game, the Department of Conservation (Doc) and Kai Tahu Ki Otago (KTKO) as ''affected parties'' during consent applications.
ORC resource management director Selva Selvarajah told the Otago Daily Times this week the move was to reduce time and costs.
However, the Fish and Game council was unhappy to be included only as an ''interested party'', meaning it would not be consulted on important issues, chief executive Niall Watson said.
Mr Watson wrote to ORC chief executive Peter Bodeker this week outlining the concerns and is hoping to receive a positive reply and rebuttal of the new system.
The letter said it was important for Fish and Game to be involved in the planning process and input on consents would make for better quality decision-making.
''ORC's decision not to treat Fish and Game as an affected party prevents Fish and Game from properly fulfilling its statutory role.''
Yesterday the Fish and Game council decided it would ''band together'' with other parties left out of the loop, such as KTKO and Doc.
Council member Ray Grubb said that in some areas, the ORC did not have expertise, which Fish and Game could provide.
Fish and Game needed ''to make a test'' out of the situation and demand affected party status, Mr Grubb said.
He suggested legal action if the ORC did not respond in Fish and Game's favour, a move agreed by the council.
Being listed as an affected party would mean Fish and Game would be aware of applications and could engage with applicants about appropriate conditions to protect sports fish or game birds.
Dr Selvarajah said in an effort to increase efficiency the council had started to apply the RMA affected parties test, which was based on adverse effects on the party and the measures taken to avoid, remedy or mitigate them.
