Coalition Parties Support Law Changes to Allow Pollution in Waterways, Say Freshwater Campaigners

The National-led Government is pushing for law changes that would allow pollution in waterways, despite claims of being champions of localism. The proposals, outlined in a select committee report, would give greater power to polluting industries and limit local government's ability to regulate pollution. According to freshwater campaigners, this would have serious consequences for the environment and democracy.

Key Takeaways:

• The National-led Government supports changes to Section 70 of the Resource Management Act, which would allow pollution in waterways, as long as there is some reduction in pollution over time.
• The Coalition parties support doing away with the current consenting process, which ensures that potentially polluting activities cannot occur without assessing their impacts on the environment.
• The changes would give greater power to polluting industries and allow them to lobby for lower standards for permitted activities.
• The proposals would bypass regional councils' role in controlling pollution through farm plans, effectively writing them out as regulators.
• The Minister for the Environment would be responsible for making decisions on industry groups that can write and audit farm plans, which raises concerns about undue influence and industry capture.

Statistics:

• Since the introduction of farm plans, the degradation of communities' waterways and drinking water sources has continued, despite their intended purpose.
• Regional councils have struggled to stop the degradation of waterways and drinking water sources in areas where farm plans have been implemented.
• The value of farm plans in controlling pollution is highly questionable, according to freshwater campaigners.
• The National-led Government has close and inappropriate relationships with some industry bodies, which raises concerns about undue influence and industry capture.

Sources:

• A select committee report released today.
• Choose Clean Water spokesperson Tom Kay.
• The Resource Management Act.
• The National-led Government's report on farm plans.
• The Environment Select Committee's report.
• Choose Clean Water. A select committee report released today.