Water and Soil Bill replaces 200 acts

Press, 14 October 1985, Page 14

Water and Soil Bill replaces 200 acts

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OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington The Government plans to introduce new water and soil legislation early next year, irrespective of changes to the structure of environmental administration. — „ A draft Water and Soil Bill has been released by the Water and Soil Division of the Ministry of Works in Wellington. Public comment is being sought on this. This planned legislation will replace more than 200 acts of Parliament, with one. It is the product of a revision that began in 1972. The secretary of the National Water and Soil Conservation Authority, Mr David Pickering, said five things would be achieved by the new bill.

First, it would implement Government policies on natural water.

Second, it would consolidate the water and soil legislation instead of the plethora of rules now. Third, it would establish a statutory base for planning functions and give communities a way to decide what they wanted to do with their waters and soils, and also provide the power to manage them. Fourth, it would extend the application of water and soil legislation to all of the country, instead of only parts of it as at present.

Fifth, it would simplify water and soil control. Mr Pickering said that under the new legislation the Crown would be bound completely, instead of only partially as now. Special arrangements for Crown water rights would be abolished. Changes would be made in local water and soil administration. All catchment boards, catchment commissions and valley authorities would become water and soil boards. While the legislation would provide for the continuance, in a somewhat simpler form, of land drainage boards, this might be unnecessary, he said. The Minister of Local Government, Dr Bassett, was asking the Local Government Commission to examine whether these boards were still necessary. An aspect of the legislation would be its stated objective which, instead of being “long titles and fluffy statements of general intent” would be clear and concise.

They would include the identification of land subject to flooding and erosion, and the avoidance*bf unsuitable uses of such land as well as protecting it, Mr Pickering said. Its first aim was "to maintain, manage and improve the water and soil

resources of New Zealand in such a way as will provide for the wellbeing of its people." 1

This had raised a few eyebrows, he said, with many environmentalists asking whether “people" in this context excluded other living creatures. This definition would be reconsidered after public submissions. Decisions on whether or not water conservation orders should be imposed or revoked, as in the case of the Rakaia River for example, would continue to be made by the National Water and Soil Conservation Authority, subject to appeals to the Planning Tribunal

He said it had taken 13 years to get to'the stage of a draft bill for public comment, but comment so far had been “pretty positive.” After revision in the light of comments made, and discussions with the Government on any outstanding policy matter, a final bill would be drafted for introduction in Parliament early next year.

It was likely to be the largest bill introduced in 1986, Mr Pickering said, and it was expected to have a fairly leisurely progress through Parliament to enable it to be considered fully.