Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Horizons Regional Council says it is supportive of the Government’s National Policy Statement (NPS) for Freshwater Management released yesterday.

“We welcome any improvements that enable us to more effectively meet the challenges our Region faces around water management and we look forward to working collaboratively with the Government and other parties to implement the NPS,” said Michael McCartney, Horizons chief executive.

The NPS recognises the value of fresh water to New Zealand and gives stronger national direction to councils. It requires councils to set limits on fresh water quality and the amount of water that can be abstracted from our rivers, lakes and aquifers.

Mr McCartney believes the NPS is a vote of confidence in regional councils as custodians of land and water.

“The direction outlined in the NPS strengthens the current planning structure required by the Resource Management Act and embeds the connection between land use and water quality. It supports the direction Horizons has taken in setting more targeted regulations for water management through the One Plan process.”

Mr McCartney said it is now up to regional councils to put the direction outlined in the NPS into practice through their own plans and policies.

“Water management is very complex and its pleasing to see that the Government has acknowledged that regions and, indeed, catchments within regions, each have specific water management issues that need to be individually addressed and the NPS allows for this.”

Mr McCartney indicated that the chairs and chief executives of regional councils will meet later this week to discuss the details of the NPS announcement and what the sector need to do to implement it.

ENDS

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