"I am disappointed at the overwhelmingly negative tone of Mr Buchanan's report and his failure to acknowledge the significant effort we have made over the past four years to involve stakeholders, including local councils, in the bottom-up development of this important document," Ms Wilde said.
She said the purpose of publishing a discussion draft of the plan was to provide an opportunity for people to have a look at how the whole document has come together from all their previous input and give the regional council feedback before it published a formal proposed plan as part of the legal process.
"The plan, like all regional plans, is required to deliver the Government's increasingly stringent water quality provisions. The bottom lines are prescribed through national standards which reflect growing national concern about water quality.
"Livestock access to waterways is a significant issue that has been discussed nationally and regionally for many years.
"We have been working closely with Federated Farmers and other industry players to find ways to deal with recognised difficulties and will continue this until we have a workable framework.
"The discussion draft we have published proposes transition times and support for farmers needing to change practice.
"We are focusing quite heavily on non-regulatory approaches and councillor Viv Napier who suggested this plan was more bureaucratic than the previous five plans it replaces will be pleased to know that many a farmer engaged in best practice will have nothing to fear," Ms Wilde said.
She said the requirement for metering "which Mr Buchanan criticises" is actually a national requirement.
"We have been working with Wairarapa farmers on this for some time and providing information about appropriate technology."
Run-off, wastewater and stormwater contamination are significant problems across the region.
"Circumstances may require a range of solutions so we have been working on these challenges with local councils for many years.
"Mr Buchanan also suggested that proposals to require consents for stormwater discharge should be vigorously opposed.
"It is interesting to note this requirement is increasingly common and in the Wellington region both Wellington City and the immediate neighbour of SWDC - Carterton - have consented stormwater discharges," Ms Wilde said.
She said there would be opportunities for people to work with their Whaitua committee and the regional council to develop workable solutions for their area.
