The Otago Fish and Game Council welcomes the proposed changes to the Otago Regional Water Plan on wetland protection, particularly the inclusion of rules encouraging wetland creation and enhancement. However, Fish and Game is concerned with changes in two key areas.

Environmental Officer Peter Wilson describes the plan as “good in intent, but may prove difficult to enforce”. Whilst rules protecting regionally significant wetlands from development have been strengthened, Fish and Game fears that that the low level of detail in maps and the removal of a list of wetland values from the plan document will mean that the new rules are difficult to enforce.

“The Otago Regional Council appears to have decided not to clearly define the boundaries of regionally significant wetlands in planning maps, instead opting for less distinct boundaries on a low detail map”. The Council has also moved the information from the plan detailing the natural values of each wetland, to a related non-statutory document to record these values

Since the Regional Water Plan was approved, Otago has had many wetlands lost or degraded through agricultural development, and Fish and Game fears that with the removal of detail from the proposed plan, those that remain of both local and regional importance will continue to be at risk. “As well as being valued wildlife and fish habitats with importance for recreation, wetlands also help maintain river flows and water quality. Wetlands are strategically important when it comes to managing land use impacts on water resources.

Mr Wilson urges those who care about wetlands to submit promptly on the proposed plan changes . “The deadline for public submissions is tight and this is your best chance to protect what’s left”.

Submissions on the proposed regional water plan changes close on July 28.

ENDS

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