Confusion reigns in the region as the parties try to assess the outcome and impacts of the Environment Court’s decisions on the appeals to the plan.
Farmers in the region had hoped the One Plan, as delivered by the independent hearing commissioners, would stand. It had logic, common sense and reason stamped all over it. But the ‘green’ lobby – Fish and Game, DOC, and others – got involved in appeals. On the face of it the outcome looks ominous for the primary sector in the region. Why the Environment Court ignored a perfectly good plan with general community support is bewildering.
When the Minister of Primary Industries starts to get involved you know there’s a problem. Carter is concerned the decisions in the One Plan’s provisions – seen as precedent-setting – could spill over into other regions and derail such things as the intensification of agriculture and irrigation schemes. Worse still, it could open up old wounds between environmentalists and farmers, and could derail the Land and Water Forum – a pet project of the Minister.
One Plan, as of now, looks set to put some silly constraints on agriculture and affect the region and potentially the nation’s economy; it’s serious stuff.
DOC has copped a lot of flack from farmers who say it should stay out of the advocacy role, or at least take a minimalist approach. It’s hard to see that happening; their chief executive says it’s part of the organisation’s role. This raises the issue of whether the Ministry for Primary Industries should enter the fray and counter the arguments of DOC and other green lobby groups and support farmers. During the old days of MAF they did exactly that.
Sadly, the Government’s new reforms of local government and the RMA will come too late to prevent this debacle. The battle over One Plan is not over and with further appeals in the wind, lawyers and judges can look forward to another financial feeding frenzy at the expense of ratepayers and taxpayers.
And since ‘common sense’ long ago died we are left with this mess that is bad for everyone.
