There is concern farmers who were ahead of the Auckland Council’s water company in the queue for consent applications could now miss out because of the decision, Waikato Federated Farmers president Jacqui Hahn said.
“It’s not really right. A region should look after its own.”
Parker decided to help Auckland overcome its worst water shortage in 25 years, calling the future sources of drinking water for Auckland a matter of national significance.
Local and central government and iwi agreed Auckland can take more water from the river while the bulk of Watercare’s application will be heard by a board of inquiry.
Watercare lodged its application with the Waikato Regional Council in 2013, asking for 200 million more litres a day.
However, there were 106 other consent applications ahead of it and the Resource Management Act says consents are processed as first-come first-served.
“There is a number of reasons as to why Watercare has taken this approach and that is concerning us along with the central government push.
“If clawbacks occur that is essentially a very small population taking a haircut, possibly jeopardising their business for a lack of infrastructure investment of a million-plus population governed by a unitary authority who doesn’t want to spend the money,” Hahn said.
Federated Farmers will meet the Waikato council later this month to air its concerns.
Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman said Watercare’s request will be decided by a board of inquiry because the size of the consent means other water users will need to give up some of their allocations.
“The proposition is that Waikato’s industrial users, growers and farmers will be required to give up their water for Auckland.
“This water reallocation is a significant wealth transfer from one area to another.
“Why should Auckland’s industrial users be advantaged over Waikato’s just because Auckland has not constructed water capture and storage to meet its own needs?
“This situation could also see water taken from Waikato vegetable growers who supply Auckland and other parts of NZ with healthy, locally-grown fresh food. This region contributes more than 25% of NZ’s vegetable supply by value.”
He warned Auckland’s water crisis will be repeated around the country and now is the time to address the issue and ensure rainwater is properly captured and stored.
“We cannot take water away from those who grow our food.
“Similarly, we cannot take water away from one group of industrial users to give to another just because there was poor planning.”
Chapman said while building dams is one part of the solution, lateral thinking is needed around effective water capture and storage.
“It is not the time to give advantage to cities that have not done their planning. So, what is Auckland doing apart from wanting to take water away from growers, farmers and industrial users in Waikato to solve Auckland’s water crisis?”
