RMA prevents consistency on catchment and decision making

RMA prevents consistency on catchment and national decision making - Opening address Water NZ Conference

“Water New Zealand welcomes the increased focus on management of freshwater by government and the various political parties. In particular we were pleased to see the recently revised National Policy for Fresh Water Management promulgated. For the first time we have a national objectives framework and some bottom lines set for managing our water. While this was 20 years overdue, it is at least a step in the right direction,” said Steve Couper, the President of Water New Zealand said in opening the annual conference this morning.

In a direct reference to the Resource Management Act, he said it was time the experiment of planning and environmental protection was reviewed. We continue to operate as a nation under an act that has a philosophy to offset social, cultural and economic factors against the environment.

“This drives regulators to deal with issues on a case by case process. And while regulators are obliged to consider effects in isolation rather than across a catchment or nationally, we will never have consistency. And, in my opinion, we will never be clean or green,” Steve Couper said.

“This arrangement also ensures that litigation is maximised and that political interference is encouraged at all levels.”

“It is ironic that the environment and those tasked with developing the infrastructure to protect it are punished the most, while the gravy train of advisers laugh all the way to the bank,” he said.

Steve Couper also said that the real cost of treating water and wastewater has never been lower.

“We can remove more pollutants from water than ever before. But, we are still trying to work out what to do with that nasty old sludge,” he said.

Steve Couper suggests that gains made over recent years are a result of a combination of technology improvements and improved regulation.

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