Water consents limited in Otago

Otago water consents will be limited to sixyear periods in future under new rules revealed by the Environment Court.

The court spent seven weeks hearing the Otago Regional Council’s plan for water consents to replace historical water rights, after Environment Minister David Parker called for the process. He was concerned that more than 300 permits dating back to the 1800s gold rush remained in effect, despite a termination date of October 1, 2021.

Land users including farmers, orchardists, winemakers and hydropower companies, mostly in Central Otago, rely on the permits for their water supply.

Otago Regional Council chairman Andrew Noone said the 145-page decision was pivotal. ‘‘We understand that the court’s decision will not rest comfortably with some. It is now time for us to work together to achieve the expectations of the national policy framework for our communities and environment, and to look towards the future,’’ he said.

Many in the primary sector had wanted consent durations to exceed six years, the interim decision says. A limited exception would be made for existing hydroelectricity generation activities.

Orchard and viticulture owners would be permitted to expand land under irrigation, despite many submitters requesting a restriction on irrigable land.

Proposals to introduce minimum levels or flows for Otago’s water bodies to improve the state of the environment were rejected.

Manuherikia Catchment Group chairwoman and farmer Anna Gillespie said the six-year limit was problematic. It did not align with council’s Land and Water Regional Plan and the short time frame would make it difficult to loan for capital developments, she said.