New conservation bill allows wetland drainage

Press, 31 May 1986, Page 21

New conservation bill allows wetland drainage

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

The Government’s new water and soil conservation legislation, to be introduced later this year, will contain provisions to enable the further drainage of wetlands. This was revealed by the Minister of Works and Development, Mr Colman, when he opened the annual conference of the Land Drainage and River Boards’ Association. He also said there was no provision in the new legislation for the elimination of drainage boards, as some had feared.

Some people considered the bill should not contain provisions which enabled further drainage of New Zealand wetlands, and that no more land should be drained, Mr Colman said.

These people considered

the wetlands had been diminished to the extent that all remaining wetlands were a scarce resource that should be protected at all cost.

Earlier this year the Government had ratified a national policy for the management of wetlands, he said. That policy indicated that the Government regarded as desirable the protection of examples of important wetlands.

The policy did not contain specific proposals but it did contain a number of objectives which needed to be picked up in the review of the water and soil legislation.

Water right procedures, water management planning, and water conservation order procedures to be included in the Water and Soil Conservation Bill would implement the Gov-

ernment’s wetlands policy adequately, Mr Colman said.

Those mechanisms would allow informed consideration and public debate of drainage proposals and their economic, social, and environmental effects. Where proposals could not be resolved satisfactorily through the procedures administered by the water and soil boards, the independent Planning Tribunal would make the final decision.

“I therefore cannot agree with those who advocate that drainage provisions are not required in the review of the water and soil legislation,” he said.

Construction and maintenance of private drains would remain necessary for better drainage of land that had already been developed.