10 September 2004
MFE the Wrong Choice
Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc) emphatically supports a comprehensive review of river control and flood-risk
management for both urban and rural areas, but is equally emphatic that the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) should
not lead the review.
Federation President Tom Lambie said appointing MfE risks making the review an environmental issue only.
"Flood and river control is of huge economic importance to national and provincial economies. The Ministry for the
Environment has no proven leadership role when it comes to economic development."
Mr Lambie's comments follow Environment Minister Marian Hobbs announcing the review to examine current approaches to
river control and flood management.
"Any review must be led by an economic ministry such as Economic Development or Agriculture and Forestry, and involve
the Treasury, local government, and the MfE," Mr Lambie said
"The Environment Minister appears to not understand the enormity of the economic uncertainty she has introduced by
announcing a review without having finalised any of the detail, terms of reference, or time frame.
"Flood-affected farmers are incurring substantial debt and making significant re-investment in their business right now.
They cannot afford to have their new investment wasted because the government has decided to have a slow-time rethink.
"Federated Farmers will take every opportunity to have its say in the review, which will hopefully recognise that
rate-based mechanisms for funding stop banks and river control schemes are outmoded and hugely inequitable.
"Farmers know about risk management. They insure their buildings and individuals pay many thousands each year in flood
scheme rates. But they are tired of their farms being sacrificed to protect cities and townships built on floodplains.
"Central government handed this task to regional councils over the 1980s and 1990s, without thinking it through. We now
have schemes run by regional councils made up of overwhelmingly urban-based councillors, many of whom fail to understand
the economic value of their scheme to all in the community - urban and rural alike," Mr Lambie said.
ENDS