Councillors Request Court Delay for Economic Impact Study
The Waikato Regional Council has asked the Environment Court for additional time to commission an economic impact study before making a decision on a water quality plan change.
New Councillors Raise Concerns
Four new regional councillors, including Waipā King Country Ward members Garry Reymer and Liz Stolwyk, brought their concerns about Plan Change One to the council’s first meeting last week. The plan change could potentially cost the region $5 billion.
"The plan change before the Environment Court includes a wide-sweeping set of rules for agricultural land use to improve freshwater quality in the Waikato and Waipā river catchments. It will apply to around 10,000 properties and 1.1 million hectares."
Council's Motion and Support
Second-term councillor Ben Dunbar-Smith moved a motion directing council chief executive Chris McLay to instruct legal counsel to request a two to three-month extension from the court. This would allow time to prepare a new economic impact assessment on implementing the plan change. The motion was supported by Gary McGuire, who expressed concern that farmers were being unfairly targeted.
"Council chief executive Chris McLay was directed to instruct legal counsel to ask the court for two to three months to enable a new economic impact assessment on the implementation of the plan change to be prepared."
Photo credit: Chris Gardner
Summary: Waikato Regional Council seeks a court delay to commission an economic impact study amid concerns the water quality plan change could cost the region billions and unfairly target farmers.