Resource planning landmark

BY KRIS DANDO - KAPI-MANA NEWS

A new regional council committee will allow iwi like Ngati Toa to have a greater say on resource issues and could be a significant step forward in addressing the dire state of Porirua Harbour.

Greater Wellington Regional Council's (GWRC) national resource plan committee held its inaugural meeting on October 28.

It comprises seven elected councillors  one of whom is from the Porirua ward, Barbara Donaldson  and appointees from the mana whenua of the region. Rawiri Faulkner will represent Ngati Toa.

While it is early days yet, with the usual consultation planned with councils, iwi, government agencies, industry, farmers and non-government organisations, the committee is seen as a landmark step for GWRC, charged with overseeing the development of a new natural resource plan.

This will replace the existing "suite" of regional plans that cover air quality, coastal, freshwater, soil and discharges to land.

GWRC chairperson Fran Wilde described the move as "historic", "innovative" and a "bottom-up" approach.
Ms Donaldson said it would change "the whole way we do things" and this streamlining will be significant for Porirua.

"I think it's very exciting, right from the beginning we're going to engage with the community and people in Porirua have the opportunity to say what they want in it. The aim is to take a catchment approach, taking into consideration the usual issues like discharge, soil and coastal that affect Porirua, along with things like stormwater and heavy metals in the harbour."

She is confident the new plan could run in partnership with Porirua City Council's Porirua Harbour and Catchment Programme, to which PCC has committed $2.6 million during 10 years.

GWRC will continue to contribute $650,000 annually towards monitoring and research in the Porirua Harbour catchment area for now, although this might change depending on the projects this new committee identifies in the coming years.

Mr Faulkner said while it would adjust the planning environment and could stimulate more action to clean up the harbour, the new plan wouldn't be a "silver bullet" and it would take time to establish.

Pauatahanui Inlet and its health issues, the impact of the urban environment, farming and industrial activities on the harbour would all be addressed.

Mr Faulkner said it was "a real balancing act" but also a chance for iwi in the region to "raise the bar" on resource issues.

"It provides the platform for discussion but it needs to be transparent, not cloak and dagger where decisions are made behind closed doors by a select few people," he said.

"I have no interest in meeting for the sake of meeting and wasting time discussing the same things over and again; ratepayers deserve to see progress.

"You can guarantee a lot of people will be watching to see what happens but I think this initiative will be positive for the community. The [regional] council is showing real innovation."