Devolution for water resource control

Press, 13 April 1988, Page 2

Devolution for water resource control

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

Catchment authorities have broader powers to administer their local water resources, including irrigation, now that I the | National Water and Soil Conservation Authority has been disbanded, i * ' The Associate Minister , for: the Environment, Mr Woollaston,, told the Irri- I gation Association yester- i day that it had inherited many of the powers of the authority and of the former Ministry of Works > and Development. Responsibility for the ; administration of community irrigation schemes had been transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, he said. Other functions of

the old authority would be assumed either by catchment authorities or by the Ministry for the Environment.' I Catchment authorities would' get most of the operational and i regulatory functions, Mr Woollaston said.

For example, the old authority’s role in setting maximum and minimum flows, flow ranges, lake levels, water-quality standards and land-use controls would now be done by the appropriate catchment board.

A new provision was the right of appeal to the Planning Tribunal against the setting of maximum and minimum flows and lake levels, he said. That was an important

safeguard for all individuals and groups with an interest in the use of particular water bodies — whether for irrigation, recreation, wildlife or fisheries protection. Crown water right procedures would not continue, Mr Woollaston said.

Any water rights required by a Minister of the Crown in future would be issued by catchment authorities in the same way as private water rights. Existing Crown rights would be administered by catchment boards as if they' had been granted by the boards. ■ . . ii

The Government had yet to work out the details of the transfer of | community irrigation schemes to local control, he said.