New water charge plan revealed

Environment Southland has revealed its rehashed proposal for a water charge in the region that could shave $900,000 off its water management bill.

Its aim is to direct a proportion of the ongoing water monitoring and management costs back to those with exclusive access and away from the general ratepayer.

Under the existing regime the council diverts about $1.72 million of general rates to manage the effects of water takes and consented and permitted operations that could have an impact on Southland waterways.

Council chief executive Ciaran Keogh said some of the work would still be paid out of general rates because the wider community also benefited and was required by legislation. But $900,000 of the council's expenses was needed for scientific investigation and monitoring of the consented water takes from rivers and aquifers, he said.

The plan is the same in principle as a proposal that was rejected by submitters to the Long Term Council Community Plan last year.

The latest proposal differs in that it encompasses a wider range of activities, from dairy farms to large scale hydro electric power schemes.

Town and community water supplies will be given a 50 per cent discount in the proposal.

Chairman Stuart Collie said the council considered it appropriate for the parties with exclusive access to water to meet a proportion of the costs. "What one person takes and uses is not available for anyone else to use."

Mr Keogh said the charge would not necessarily mean an extra cost on top of rates, it could be offset by reduced regional rates across all properties in Southland.

Federated Farmers Southland president Rod Pemberton said farmers would still feel targeted despite changes to the proposal.

There was no parity when a giant company like Meridian Energy's charge was capped at $50,000 when it used much more than any farmer or irrigator, he said. If the company was charged on an equal scale it would pay more than $1m, Mr Pemberton said.

Submissions on the draft plan are open for six weeks.

Mr Collie said it was important for anyone with a view on the proposal, either for it, or against it, to make their opinion known.

WATER MANAGEMENT

The proposal A minimum charge of $100 for each consented water take A maximum charge of $5000 for groundwater takes and $50,000 for surfacewater takes The proposed costs A 600-cow dairy farm: $100 annually for groundwater or $210 for surface water Large irrigator: $5000 for groundwater or $50,000 for surface water Meridian Energy: $50,000 a year Invercargill City Council: $50,000 a year for its municipal supply from the Oreti River Southland District Council: $1500 for its Winton municipal water supply

- © Fairfax NZ News

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