Although the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity is not yet Government policy, the Far North District Council is suspending its SNA identification process after protests from Māori landowners, including a hikoi.
The Far North District Council estimates 42% of the district on land owned by 8000 landowners could have areas of high ecological value.
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) was asked for updated estimates of the cost of implementing the biodiversity policy, but did not provide the information by deadline.
SDC environmental management planner Marcus Roy says a desktop analysis has identified about 3000 potential areas of significant vegetation or landscapes across the Southland district.
If the biodiversity legislation becomes law, Roy estimates each site inspection will cost $3000, with the estimated total cost being $9m spread over the next 10 years.
The law will require councils to map SNAs and categorise them as being of medium or high importance.
The SDC will also have to map and inspect sites in two national parks, but Roy says data from the Department of Conservation (DoC) should accelerate that process.
Successive council plans since 1994 have included rules relating to the clearance and modification of indigenous vegetation, which in almost all instances already triggers a resource consent process.
“It’s anticipated that the SNA mapping process will better refine where and when resource consents are required,” he said.
The council and Southland Federated Farmers have agreed to work together on SNA mapping if the policy proceeds.
“The reality is that many landowners are already doing the work needed to protect these significant areas and adhering to rules regarding biodiversity clearance, which have been in place for a significant amount of time,” he said.
The LGNZ’s submission on the policy last year described the financial burden on some councils as “untenable”, singling out the cost to ratepayers in Southland but also Manawatū-Wanganui, where regional and territorial authorities will need to re-establish roles and rebuild compliant biodiversity programmes.
“We are particularly concerned about the burden this will place on ratepayers in areas with smaller rating-bases, which also tend to have more areas of indigenous biodiversity to protect,” it said.
While supporting the Government’s focus on biodiversity, LGNZ says focus must be on maintenance not restoration, the Government must support councils and, to be successful, trust must be built with landowners.
“A combative approach with landowners or a solely government-led approach will not deliver long-term, durable outcomes for biodiversity,” it said.
Radio NZ reported that mayors from the West Coast, Southland, Mackenzie, Hurunui and Tasman councils report ratepayer unrest over the issue.
Far North Mayor John Carter told RNZ that he had approached Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis last week after large numbers of objections from landowners who had SNAs mapped on their properties.
“Kelvin took our concerns to (Associated Environment Minister) James Shaw, and we have had a positive response from him to our proposal that we need to find another more positive way of dealing with this; we need more time and some help with resourcing as well,” Carter said.
He says Shaw had been receptive to the council’s concerns.
“Whatever approach they decide to take will apply to other areas as well.
“It’s not just about Māori land, I’ve talked to other mayors and it’s been an issue nationwide,” he said.
