SNAs will go - eventually
Despite some earlier confusion around the exact timing, the new Government is moving to reform the way local bodies implement Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) rules on farmland.
“This is positive and, importantly, the plan recognises that more needs to be done by national and regional government to ensure water storage and irrigation infrastructure is built to maximise the economic and social benefits our freshwater can offer while protecting the environment,” says Andrew Curtis, IrrigationNZ chief executive.
“As part of this, the action plan identifies that Government needs to provide more detailed national guidance on nutrient limit setting in rivers and help develop better tools for measuring nutrients.
“This will prevent councils and environmental courts muddling their way through vague legislation to reach outcomes which are causing significant delays in getting water storage and irrigation projects off the ground and are driving away investors.”
Additionally, there is recognition in the plan that unnecessary delays caused by the RMA and consenting processes need to stop. Otherwise, we will be in a situation where promises are made but not delivered on and our regional and national economies will suffer, says Curtis.
“The plan also acknowledges our recommendation that the best way to respond to land change, and other development pressures on freshwater, is by collaborative catchment scale solutions. As part of this, water storage can become part of the solution to water quality and nutrient issues by providing flushing flows and river or groundwater augmentation. All irrigation projects currently under investigation provide these key benefits. This way, water infrastructure can offer environmental benefits, as well as the well-known broader economic and social ones.
“The Government recognises this potential, which is why it has contributed $150m since 2011. But more needs to be done, quickly, to get this beneficial infrastructure built and over the line.
“The future requires building resilient provincial communities and water supply reliability is paramount to this, especially on the east coasts of NZ.”
IrrigationNZ emphasises that as well as these changes at a national level, all irrigators need to implement SMART irrigation practices and technologies to ensure maximum efficiencies. SMART irrigators are those farmers demonstrating precise and accountable water application.
