Federated Farmers labels water conservation orders 'relics of past'

Water conservation orders are designed to protect waterways, like the Clive River, but some say they threaten jobs in Hawke's Bay, and override a community process already under way. PHOTO/FILE

The abolishing of water conservation orders has been called for by Federated Farmers, who have labelled them "a relic of the past".

Tensions have risen over a water conservation order (WCO) for the Ngaruroro and Clive Rivers - designed to recognise, and preserve the "outstanding values" of specific water bodies.

However, such orders can impose restrictions, or prohibitions on how water from these bodies is used - which has raised concern that Hawke's Bay's agriculture, and horticulture sectors could be impacted.

Yesterday Federated Farmers said these orders had been superseded by other legislation, the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, meaning WCOs were no longer fitting for future challenges around water conservation.

Federated Farmers Hawke's Bay president Will Foley said they were committed to cleaning up the nation's waterways, but WCOs were proving to be a barrier, rather than solution to
addressing water quality issues.

"We have a situation here in Hawke's Bay where our consultative process TANK has been hijacked by several stakeholders, who if they succeed will shift future decision-making away from the community to central government in Wellington," he said.

At least five locally-based organisations have filed applications for conservation orders for the two rivers.

"It's upset a lot of people in the community, let alone the stakeholder group and is undermining the good work to date we've achieved, after five years of voluntary efforts."

He said the application was "out of sync" with the majority of the Hawke's Bay community, as the TANK process had been acknowledged as a more effective process, which recognised both environmental and economic values.

"It's incredibly disappointing that some members of the stakeholder collaborative group can be sitting at the table alongside their peers, yet simultaneously preparing an alternative."

Recently the Hawke's Bay Regional Council voted unanimously to oppose the WCOs.

Yesterday council chair Rex Graham said he agreed that WCOs were outdated legislation, which should be abolished.

He also seconded Mr Foley's call for the applicants to withdraw the WCO and address their issues through the TANK process instead.

"It would save everyone a lot of money, and a lot of pain in our community if they did the sensible thing and withdrew."

Forest and Bird - one of the applicants - could not be reached for comment.

An opinion piece from their Freshwater advocate Annabeth Cohen stated that WCOs and agriculture did co-exist.

"A fair judicial process hears submissions from the community including farmers' concerns for irrigation and economy.

"A water conservation order is the best tool we have for protecting outstanding values of freshwater. The recognition won't solve all our water quality and quantity problems, but nor will it create new ones.

"If a water body is outstanding then most New Zealanders would agree that it deserves to be protected. The water conservation order process is a robust mechanism for achieving that goal, while taking into account the needs and concerns of the community.