Work stalls on ORC's new air plan
Work has stopped on new rules for home heating to manage and improve air quality in the region, the Otago Regional Council has confirmed.
Chief executive Richard Saunders confirmed at a council meeting in Oamaru yesterday work on the council's new air plan had stopped as a result of Resource Management Act (RMA) Reform Minister Chris Bishop's direction last week that council planning should stop until the new RMA legislation takes effect.
On the day Mr Bishop broke the news to councillors and mayors attending the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) conference in Christchurch, Mr Saunders said the council welcomed the announcement from the minister "and the clarity it brings in light of upcoming resource management reforms".
However, he said staff were still working through the implications on the council's work programme.
Yesterday, regional planning and transport general manager Anita Dawe said no other work programmes at the council would be stopped after Mr Bishop's announcement.
"Given the recent clear direction from Minister Bishop, staff have stopped work on the formal air plan process," Ms Dawe said.
"Work on the air strategy is expected to continue subject to further direction from councillors.
"The final and detailed direction [of the plan] was still to be finalised. However, the broad direction was to put in place rules that improved air quality, in particular around domestic home heating."
She said the plan was no longer due to be notified next year.
Three policy staff, one science staff member, and additional staff who had been working on the air plan would be redeployed to other projects, she said.
Mr Bishop's office told the Otago Daily Times last week proposed plans that had a hearing date scheduled within five days of the enactment of the government's plan-stop legislation, expected next month, should continue.
hamish.maclean@odt.co.nz
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