Proposed changes to the Government’s resource management reforms should make it easier for dairy farmers to focus on running their businesses by reducing unnecessary duplication, costs and complexity.
DairyNZ says the proposed amendments released this week address several concerns raised by farmers and the wider primary sector and improve key parts of the Natural Environment and Planning Bills.
DairyNZ Chair Tracy Brown says the changes are another important step towards a resource management system that is more practical, balanced and workable, providing for primary production while delivering environmental improvement.
“DairyNZ has engaged intensively throughout the reform process. We are pleased to see most of the issues we have consistently raised reflected in the proposed amendments. Importantly, these changes are better aligned with farmers’ needs and the practical realities of running a farming business,” says Tracy.
“We have stayed focused on identifying where proposals aren't workable on farm and put forward practical alternatives. We believe that approach has helped deliver these improvements.
“Farmers need resource management rules that are clear, workable and deliver results. These proposed changes reflect the solutions put forward by the primary sector.”
Freshwater Farm Plans
One of the most immediate changes relates to Freshwater Farm Plans. For dairy farmers, plans will still be developed at a whole-farm level so that all freshwater risks and mitigations can be assessed together.
The change is that, in some situations, farmers may only need to have the parts of the plan relevant to a particular activity certified, rather than the whole plan. This is intended to reduce unnecessary cost and administration while still maintaining environmental oversight.
The exception is where a Freshwater Farm Plan is being used instead of a permit, consent or regulation. In those cases, wider certification requirements may still apply.
“We strongly support reducing unnecessary complexity and duplication, including the proposed pathway for the Minister to approve industry organisations to provide certification services to their members, subject to requirements set in regulations. Farm plans work best when they assess the risks across the whole farm. Our preference remains for whole-farm certification,” Tracy says.
Natural Environment Bill
DairyNZ has also welcomed proposed changes to the environmental limits framework, including removing the statutory requirement for caps on resource use and a greater emphasis on action plans.
Action plans may include regulatory and non-regulatory measures, such as work programmes and partnerships with communities, catchment groups and tangata whenua. Regulations can be proposed as part of the action plan process but would not take effect until included in a natural environment plan.
“Environmental limits need to protect what matters, but the response when a limit is under pressure must also be practical and reflect local circumstances,” says Tracy.
"Action plans are a real opportunity to recognise the efforts already being made by our catchment communities before defaulting to new regulations.
“Catchments and farming systems are different, and the proposed approach creates more flexibility to use the right mix of tools, partnerships and investment to improve environmental outcomes.”
"Recent amendments to the RMA should be carried through into the new legislation, including a clear pathway to grant permits where lawful activities are reducing their environmental impacts over time,” she says.
Other proposed changes would recognise water storage and distribution infrastructure as long-lived infrastructure, enabling qualifying assets to access permit durations of at up to 35 years and providing investment certainty. They also include extending the temporary discontinuance period for qualifying existing use activities from six to 12 months.
Planning Bill amendments
The proposed Planning Bill amendments provide greater certainty during the transition from the RMA to the new system. This includes mechanisms to support nationally consistent decision-making and provide for existing lawfully established activities as regions transition to the new framework.
Alongside the remaining parliamentary stages, attention will increasingly turn to implementation, including national policy direction, national standards, methodologies for setting ecosystem health limits and detailed freshwater farm plan regulations.
“These amendments are a positive step, but implementation will ultimately determine whether the reforms deliver for farmers and the environment,” says Tracy.
“The next phase will be critical. DairyNZ is ready to work with Government to ensure national policy direction, national standards and scientific methodologies are practical, informed by sound science, and deliver meaningful environmental outcomes without unnecessary cost or complexity.”
Media contact
Kirsten Rose
Senior Corporate Communications Advisor
p: 027 383 6937
e: kirsten.rose@dairynz.co.nz
Freshwater Farm Plans
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