Latest news with #GretchenRobertson
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Some water permits to get extension
The Otago region's water users will now have at least five years before changes to consents occur. Since legislation was passed in October 2024 preventing the notification of the draft Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP), the Otago Regional Council has been working with the government to find a way to provide some certainty for farmers and growers, and water permit holders until a new plan is in place. The legislation prevented all regional councils from notifying freshwater planning measures before a new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPSFM) was published, or December 31, 2025, whichever came sooner, but several previously identified issues with the current plan could not be resolved through the new LWRP. The regional council requested the government consider a legislative fix for these known issues, that would extend the expiry date of existing short-term water permits and override certain discharge provisions of the plan — providing short-term clarity for the region's produce growers, primary producers and water permit holders. The amendment will extend the duration of most existing short-term water permits for another five years, on the assumption that their expiry date will be after a new plan is put in place. ORC chairwoman Gretchen Robertson said she was pleased the council had gained support from the government to address these known issues through a change in legislation. "While this only provides some further short-term certainty for the Otago community it ensures we avoid unnecessary costs and regulation until new freshwater rules are in place." Federated Farmers said the changes would spare thousands of farmers from needing an unnecessary resource consent just to keep farming. RMA reform spokesman Mark Hooper said the changes were "just common sense". "Without these urgent changes to the discharge rules under section 70 of the RMA, we would have been facing a ridiculous, expensive and totally unworkable situation. "Thousands of farmers would have needed to go through the process of applying for a new resource consent, and ticking boxes, for absolutely no environmental gain." Mr Hooper said councils would still be able to require consent for genuinely high-risk activities but would not be forced to do so when something such as a farm plan is a better option. "Taking a risk-based approach is much more sensible — particularly when many farmers already have farm plans in place that will drive real environmental improvements." — Allied Media
Scoop
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Oamaru Meeting For ORC Next Week
The public in North Otago are being encouraged to attend an Otago Regional Council meeting in Oamaru next week, on Wednesday 23 July. The meeting will be at Waitaki District Council, Council Chambers, 20 Thames St and is scheduled to run from 10am - 5pm. ORC Chair Gretchen Robertson says there will be a wide range of subjects being considered at Wednesday's meeting and is looking forward to members of the public attending. 'We like to take as many full Council meetings as possible around the regions each year, not only to reflect on work being done locally but to engage with communities in their home districts and better understand what is most important to them,' Cr Robertson says. Agenda items will include a recovery update from the floods of 2022, 2023 and 2024, an update on the South Dunedin Future programme, including community engagement results and also Remuneration Authority recommendations around pay rates for Councillors. 'Many of these topics will give people a good idea of the wide-ranging environmental work which ORC undertakes for communities around Otago,' she says. The main Council meeting will start with a public forum and Cr Robertson encourages anyone interested to call the ORC as soon as possible to secure a speaking time. So far those scheduled to make presentations include a representative from Extinction Rebellion and a ratepayer talking about waterways and river maintenance. The meeting's full Agenda will be available online from Monday morning.
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Otago Regional Council Adopts Annual Plan – 5.5% Rates Increase
Delivering value for money was key in Otago Regional Council decision-making for the council's work in the year ahead. Councillors today adopted the Annual Plan 2025-26 which will see ORC rates increase 5.5% overall in the year ahead - a significant drop from the 13.8% originally forecast in the Long-Term Plan. ORC Chairperson Gretchen Robertson says contributing to the less than forecast rates increase were cuts to some planned public transport upgrades, reprioritisation of environmental implementation funding, reduced inflation costs and work to gain efficiencies. The annual plan focused on finding efficiencies in the work programme while continuing the council's vital work that underpins resilient and well supported communities. 'Port Otago's dividend has been increased $2 million which benefits all ratepayers, as it helps to offset costs that would otherwise need to be paid by rates. 'Also benefitting ratepayers, $2 million of Council reserves will be used to pay for the first year of a new environmental fund,' Cr Robertson says. 'Alongside our core responsibilities, key changes in the year ahead include some targeted upgrades to public transport, increased environmental funding, and further work on natural hazards and engineering. 'A rates increase is still required to help fund this work. This includes the investment in climate change and biodiversity strategies, as well as rising costs in areas like insurance, depreciation, and property rentals.' Cr Robertson says, 'Improving bus services remains a priority. Queenstown will see upgrades with Government co-funding, but planned improvements for Dunedin did not receive funding, so current services will remain unchanged there. Fare changes are also planned. A business case to assess Wanaka public transport options attracted strong public support and will go ahead. Some regional upgrades will not happen due to co-funding gaps, but we're committed to finding ways to improve connectivity options for Ōamaru, Balclutha and Central Otago.' Large scale environmental work will get an extra boost in the 2025-26 year with a new $2 million a year large-scale environmental fund; from Council reserves in the first year. 'This fund invests in large, community-led initiatives that deliver enduring environmental outcomes and excellent value for money,' says Cr Robertson. Planned work in the year ahead includes investigations looking at hazards in Middlemarch and for Lindsay Creek (North Dunedin), resilience work for the Kaikorai Stream near Green Island, and river mouth monitoring technology installation in key areas. The overall rates increase for 2025/26 is 5.5% but the rates impact for individual properties is different and can be influenced by a range of things including location and the services provided. Less than half of ORC's funding comes from rates — the rest is from fees and charges, grants, reserves, dividends from Port Otago and investment income. Rates examples for median value residential properties
