Council waits to change proposed Marlborough Environment Plan

On 25 October this year, the Resource Management (Freshwater and Other Matters) Amendment Act took effect.

The Act covers several topics, with two having a particular National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPSFM) focus.

The first prevents regional councils from making changes to their regional plans for the purpose of implementing the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM) until either the date a new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (replacing the NPSFM 2020) is published or 31 December 2025.

The second no longer requires resource consent applications to demonstrate compliance with Te Mana o Te Wai obligations under the NPSFM 2020.

Council has previously said it will not undertake a variation to the proposed Marlborough Environment Plan (PMEP) for the purpose of implementing the NPSFM 2020. It will await the replacement NPSFM, due in 2026, before undertaking changes to the PMEP.

The Government has signalled further freshwater-focused resource management reform, which Council will continue to report on through its Environment & Planning Committee.