Date: 09 April, 2009

New Freshwater Allocation Regime Proposed

A new fee and increases in existing resource consent charges are proposed as the Northland Regional Council moves to both learn more about the region’s freshwater resources and ensure there is enough to go around in future.

Susie Osbaldiston, the Council’s Groundwater Management Specialist, says many of the region’s water resources are already highly allocated and are under increasing pressure.

Ms Obaldiston says unless a more rigorous Northland-wide freshwater allocation regime is implemented soon there is a real risk of over-allocation and increased restrictions on water use, especially during dry periods.

In a bid to both provide existing users with a reliable and secure supply and to better protect the environment, the Council intends to review and improve knowledge of Northland’s water resources before implementing the proposed new regime.

Ms Osbaldiston says that work will take several years and to fund it, the Council is proposing to introduce a new user pays fee.

The proposed fee – detailed in the Council’s just-released Draft Northland Community Plan 2009-2019 - would range between $20 to $700 (excluding GST). The exact charge will depend on both the amount of water to be taken and how much water is already being allocated from the catchment concerned.

“For example a relatively minor water take in a catchment with a low level of allocation will have a $20 charge. In contrast, a major take in a catchment with a high level of allocation could have a maximum charge of $700.”

Ms Osbaldiston says if adopted, the Council expects to the new fee to collect about $75,000 in its first year.

Initially the Council will focus its attention on about 20 catchments around the region where there is already a significant risk of over-allocation.

“The vast majority of those are in the Whangarei District, including the Ruakaka and Otaika catchments, but there are some in the Far North, such as the Waitangi and Waipapa catchments, and one - the Kaihu catchment - in Kaipara.”

Meanwhile, Ms Osbaldiston says the Council is also proposing a 10 percent increase in existing service fees and charges levied on those with resource consents to take freshwater – the first such increase in five years. That is expected to generate about $8000 extra (subs: crrct $8000) annually.

She says the public can comment on the proposed new user fee and increased charges until 3pm on Friday 8 May as part of the public submission process on the Regional Council’s Draft Community Plan.

However, even if the proposed charges are eventually adopted, any changes to the existing water allocation policy – including new limits – will still be several years away and there will be extensive further public consultation throughout the process.

Ms Osbaldiston says more than 500 letters detailing the proposed changes – and inviting consent holders to comment - are being sent to all those with consents to take freshwater.

Additionally, almost 60,000 copies of a 20-page summary of the Council’s Draft Community Plan – complete with a submission form – are currently being distributed to homes throughout the region.

That summary also includes details of the Sustainable Water Allocation Plan and the full Draft Community Plan is also available on CD from all Council offices or via the Council’s website www.nrc.govt.nz/ltccp

“Submissions can also be made online via that web link.”
ENDS

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