Bore legislation to be given priority

Press, 20 February 1987, Page 24

Bore legislation to be given priority

By

Oliver Riddell

in Wellington

Plans to strengthen and clarify the legislation covering the operation of geothermal bores will be speeded by the Government.

The Minister of Energy, Mr Tizard, said priority would be given to amending the Geothermal Energy Act, 1953, and the Geothermal Energy Regulations, 1961, covering the licensing and shuttingdown of bores at Rotorua.

These changes would be largely of a general application rather than a specific to Rotorua, although some would be specific. Changes had been contemplated for some time, but the Government now planned to tidy up the legislation this year to overcome some of the ambiguities found in the legislation. “The urgency of the situation at Rotorua has now brought this to the fore, especially since the Rotorua Bore Owners’ Association has taken the matter to court,” Mr Tizard said.

This came after the Government’s plans to close bores within a 1.5 km radius of the endangered Whakarewarewa geothermal field. He said the legislation was now more than 30 years old and dispute over it had the potential to delay action at Rotorua. In the 1.5 km zone, there had to be a substantial reduction in draw-off by midwinter. «

Changes to the legislation were intended to broaden Ministerial powers over licensing and bore closures.

These changes would also establish geothermal inspectors with wide enforcement powers: make unlicensed bore tapping, taking, or use of geothermal energy a ground for bore closing; and clarify the obligations of geothermal energy users who were taking from previously unlicensed bores or natural geothermal springs.

Mr Tizard said the amendments would clarify the rights and powers of those involved—bore

owners, bore users, and the Government

Users should not be misled by “apparent” legal loopholes in the present legislation, he said. They should concentrate on adjusting to the new geothermal regime rather than waste time fighting legal battles. He said he was pleased his Ministry's Rotorua office had received many requests for licence applications during the last few weeks. More than 200 applications had been filed and many people had collected licence application forms.

Some people in Rotorua were already converting to alternative fuels. “The Government is determined to see that all necessary steps are taken to rescue the natural attractions at Whakarewarewa,” Mr Tizard said.