While the Government paints the state of New Zealand freshwater as a crisis, the deadline it has set for meeting water quality has been extended, Otago Regional Cr Michael Deaker says.
"It was a gloomy forecast and we all needed to get on and deal to it, yet now we seem to have a climate-change scenario - keep on talking and do nothing while the environment goes to hell in a handbasket," Cr Deaker said at a recent meeting.
The council was discussing clarification from the Government over expectations of regional councils to implement the national policy statement (NPS) for freshwater management.
The statement said councils needed to have a programme in place by November 12 this year for establishing and implementing limits by 2030.
Chief executive Graeme Martin said these directions were about setting policies, not about water quality.
Expectations from the community were that these changes would be fully implemented by 2030, but this seemed to say as "long as you've got some policy you'll be right", he said.
The Otago Regional Council will have its water quality measures fully implemented by 2019 and the quantity aspects by about 2021.
Cr Bryan Scott said he viewed the situation as an opportunity because Otago was doing the responsible thing by meeting the earlier deadlines.
Cr Sam Neil said the people of Otago should "take heart" the regional council was thinking ahead.
Chairman Stephen Woodhead said NPS or not, the council would still be doing what it was with its water plan changes, as it was reacting to the needs of the community and environment.
"Frankly, national issues are peripheral."
Cr Gretchen Robertson said not implementing a plan until 2030 was "ridiculous".
Crs Duncan Butcher and David Shepherd did not take part in the discussion due to their roles on the 6A water plan changes hearing panel.
