Canterbury council leaders support plans to scrap reforms

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

North Canterbury's council leaders are supportive of Government plans to scrap a raft of reforms, but are keen to see more details.

Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said the new Government has listened to the concerns of rural councils about the difficulties implementing a range of policies.

"The issues are complex and I look forward to seeing what balance a new approach can bring."

The new Government has announced sweeping changes including the repeal of Resource Management Act and Three Waters reforms, as well as changes to the National Policy Statements on Freshwater and Indigenous Biodiversity.

Dobbie said he would like to see a resource management system which was more accessible, with "good checks and balances to scrutinise more complex matters".

While rural communities like Hurunui have few government services, the district did receive government funding to deliver services, so any funding cuts could have significant impacts.

Waimakariri District Council chief executive Jeff Millward (pictured) said it was "too early" to determine the impacts of the reversal on reforms.

"It is a fairly difficult economic environment at present and I think the Government recognises the issues being faced by our communities and businesses."

Millward said the council had lobbied for changes to the Three Waters reform.

He hoped the new Government would support "better and more affordable models" being proposed by councils.

Kaikōura District Council acting chief executive Peter Kearney said his council was supportive of the proposed legislative reviews.

"Where there is opportunity for us to proactively approach government for additional funding that will add value to our community we will certainly be seeking to explore those possibilities.

"At this stage there is still much for the new government to work through and we remain optimistic the detail will provide a constructive and pragmatic way forward."

The coalition Government has agreed to review the National Policy Statement on Indigenous Biodiversity, while the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater will be replaced.

Work on the new Significant Natural Areas, which aims to give greater protection to important native habitats, will be stopped.

New resource management legislation will focus on property rights as a guiding principle.

The new medium density residential standards, which was introduced as a joint Labour and National initiative, will now be optional for high growth councils such as Waimakariri.

The changes would be accompanied by ACT's plan to share a portion of GST from new builds with councils

New Zealand First has also secured a $1.2 billion regional infrastructure fund.

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