A plan which will shape water and land use in Southland has been queried by councils, farmers and affected business.
An Environment Court hearing of the proposed Southland Water and Land Plan began yesterday at the Ascot Park Hotel.
The hearing panel, headed by Judge Jane Borthwick, will consider 25 appeals from submitters including Ngai Tahu, Federated Farmers, Forest & Bird and Southland Fish & Game.
The appeal process has been split into two stages - Topic A, which covers the objectives and physiographic zone policies, and Topic B, which covers the rules that directly govern land and water use.
The second topic is likely to be heard next year.
Key themes of the appeals were disagreement over some of the wording, the inclusion of some provisions which had been deleted during the draft process and the easing of some of the rules.
In opening legal submission for Environment Southland, counsel Philip Maw said managing activities which have the potential to affect water quality was a difficult task, but it was the council's duty by statute.
He said the plan was intended to provide direction and guidance regarding the sustainable use, development and protection of water and land resources in Southland.
Mr Maw addressed some ''issues'' raised by appellants, including one from Federated Farmers.
It said the physiographic zone policies would control activities rather than manage effects.
He said the plan provided the appropriate guidance when the council assesses applications for resource consent, in particular, in relation to dairy farming and winter grazing that ''disproportionately contribute to the overall contaminant losses in Southland''.
A joint appeal from the Invercargill City and Gore and Southland District Councils highlighted stormwater and community sewerage schemes.
Counsel Michael Garbett said his clients opposed part of the plan which sought to reduce the recognition and/or provision for community water supply, stormwater and treated wastewater infrastructure to operate, be upgraded and to discharge to the environment.
''Such networks operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the councils generally cannot influence the inputs into the system,'' he said.
The hearing continues.
