Closing representation of Wise Response Incorporated - Plan Change 7

Abstract

Closing representation made before the Environment Court at Christchurch in the matter of the Resource Management Act 1991 and of a notice of motion under section 149T(2) to decide proposed Plan Change 7 (referred to the Environment Court by the Minister for the Environment under section 142(2)(b) of the Act). Otago Regional Council is the applicant and the case citation is ENV-2020-CHC-127. The plan change is intended to provide a mechanism for addressing th expiry of former mineral licence water takes that are now deemed water permits, all due to expire in October 2021 , and other new water permit applications being lodged prior to new regional water plan that would implement the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management issued in 2020. The representation argues that no new permits should be issued prior to the establishment of environmental flows and addresses specifically the June 2021 Regional Policy Statement and the concept of 'stranded assets'.