Nelson environmentalists are concerned that new forestry legislation will make it easier for logging companies to muddy the region’s biodiversity while taking power away from local authorities in monitoring the industry.
Rules governing the environmental impact of the plantation forestry industry are being taken away from local government and replaced with a new National Environmental Standard under the Resource Management Act. The move hopes to to streamline forestry operations and improve environmental outcomes.
Consultation is now open on the legislation that has been in the works since 2009.
However, local forestry consultant Roger May said the legislation had implications for all who were concerned about water quality and biodiversity.
“The implications are substantial and I wouldn’t mind betting a lot that a lot of public won’t know it’s happening.”
The proposed law classifies areas around the country into low, moderate, high or very high risk of erosion. The first three of those mean that forestry companies are free to engage in large scale programmes like earthworks and harvesting without applying for resource consent.
May said this would leave local councils with little means to have an impact on the intentions of forestry companies. If accepted the law would supersede council bylaws and initiatives, May said. Regional authorities would be required to incorporate the law into their own regional plans.
Friends of the Maitai spokesperson Tom Kennedy said the proposed new standard reclassifies the majority of the Maitai plantation forestry area, from high or very high erosion susceptibility to moderate.
“This means that forestry activities become a permitted activity and no resource consent is required,” he said.
“There are a set of rules that must be followed but we feel many of these are woefully inadequate.”
Kennedy said areas of the Maitai catchment were sensitive to damaging sedimentation from forestry.
“I don’t trust the classification.”
New Zealand Farm Forestry Association environment spokesperson Angus Gordon said the consistent rules would make it easier for the industry to be able to plan and carry out their work with certainty.
“We usually do not have an industry expert on staff who would be totally knowledgeable with all the industry rules. It will be easier to learn the rules and to not fall between the cracks.”
Environment Minister Nick Smith said the current system for environmental regulation of forestry was complex and confusing with thousands of different rules across New Zealand’s 78 councils.
“This proposed standard will simplify the rules and save the forestry industry millions in compliance costs while ensuring environmental issues like wilding pines, protecting spawning fish and erosion are better managed.”
The Ministry of Primary Industries will hold a public meeting on the National Environmental Standards at the Tahuna Conference Centre at 5.30pm on July 20.
– Stuff