It is looking at new ways to fund the maintenance of the region’s rivers and who should pay for it.
The old model of those living closest to the rivers paying the most maintenance appears headed for the rubbish bin with new funding regimes to be introduced.
Rivers play a critical role in the Southland region and touch everyone’s lives in one way or another, Environment Southland said in a statement.
River management funding includes keeping river channels clear and protecting and stabilising riverbanks.
Environment Southland chairman Nicol Horrell said community input was crucial, as people needed to understand the options on the table and how they would affect their rates.
During last year’s 2024-34 long-term plan consultation, the community asked the council to reconsider how river management work is funded. This excludes the Waiau rating area due to contract obligations.
In response, the council decided to further consult the community on funding options.
The council believed past approaches to river management funding were not going to adequately meet future needs, Mr Horrell said.
"Southland’s rivers have been repeatedly tested during recent decades and have stood up well, but they are coming under increasing pressure due to more frequent and severe weather.
"In the past, the system supported the view that those nearest the rivers benefited most from river maintenance because it protected their properties.
"Now we understand more and know that everyone benefits from river management and flood protection.
"For instance, our roading and rail network is key to our economy. It provides the links for people to move around and to transport goods to fill our supermarket shelves, replenish hospital medical supplies, shift raw and processed products, move stock, and enable services to operate efficiently and effectively.
"Our river and flood infrastructure is key to protecting these other lifelines."
The council was proposing a more equitable way of funding the maintenance of Southland’s rivers, taking a wider approach, he said.
The cost of river management work in 2024-25 is $3.5million. It is funded by a 50% general rate based on capital value and 50% from 140 targeted rates based on land value.
"We are asking whether people would prefer a 100% regional rate to fund river management, or a mix of targeted local rates and a targeted general rate for the rest of the region."
The council’s preferred option was a 100% regional rate as it would spread the source of funding river management activity across more ratepayers, Mr Horrell said.
"It would provide for greater flexibility of investment and inclusion of the wider region as contributors to fund investment where it is needed most."
More information and submission forms are at www.haveyoursay.es.govt.nz, and are also available at libraries around Southland.
Three river management consultation catch-ups are being held next week.
They are in Invercargill at the Environment Southland office on Tuesday at 5.30pm, in Gore at James Cumming Community Centre on Wednesday at 5.30pm, and in Winton at the Presbyterian Hall on Thursday at 5.30pm.
