Thursday April 23 2015 | Issue 646
Award winner: Oxford teen wins prestigious award. — page 7.
Golden: Nth Canty fleeces in winners circle. — page 21.
Real Estate: Nth Canty property sales. — page 31 34.
Regulations an insult to families and individuals By ROBYN BRISTOW There has to be a better way of protecting native biodiversity than through ‘‘punitive regulation’’, Hurunui Mayor Winton Dalley says. He told the ‘Future of the Heartland’ forum at Te Mania, Conway Flat last week, it was an insult to ‘‘slap’’ the many families and individuals in the district, who were leading by example, restoring and planting and encouraging others to value and protect what they have, with ‘‘punitive rules and regulation’’. Mr Dalley pointed out the many attributes and assets the Hurunui district had in a speech where he gave his personal comments and perspectives influenced by ‘‘40 years living, bringing up a family and dry land farming in Hurunui, serving my community in numerous capacities, including 12 years in local government and listening to my community’’. But there were handbrakes to progress and a number of Government policy settings that were challenging to local government and unhelpful to ‘‘our community in maintaining current production and achieving the growth targets set by government, such as regulatory protection of native biodiversity, outstanding landscapes and coastal environments.’’ ‘‘To demand, by punitive regulation, that landowners should bear the cost of protection, the loss of use and production, thereby turning these areas into a liability for them rather than an asset, is short sighted,’’ he says.
‘‘In spite of all that, we have many outstanding examples of large areas of biodiversity on private land voluntarily protected,’’ he says. The regulatory protection of native biodiversity, outstanding landscapes and coastal environments, had long been and still is a ‘‘contentious’’ issue in the Hurunui. ‘‘It is unequivocal that the current regulatory rules base approach, forcefully demanded by some parties, to protect and enhance biodiversity and natural features, is counter productive. ‘‘There has to be a better way and we are working on it,’’ says Mr Dalley. A raft of environmental issues appeared to be all consuming at the moment. The visitor industry benefitted from a pristine environment and the wine industry was focused on environmental sustainability. ‘‘However, affordable environmentally sustainable disposal of urban sewage which of course includes visitors, is a major concern as is the affordable provision of water that meet the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards. The Hurunui district was proposing some pragmatic and ‘‘responsible rating and financing changes’’ to deal with these issues. But the cost of renewing and upgrading infrastructure to meet environmental standards, was financially challenging and drew local funds away from production. Continued Page
Spectacle . . . People watch the high tide roll in at Amberley Beach as a digger endeavours PHOTO: ROBYN BRISTOW. to keep Golf Links Road open.
High tide . . . Waves crash over on to the carpark at Amberley Beach as a King tide rolls PHOTO: ROBYN BRISTOW. in.
Waves gnaw at beach King tides gnawed away at Amberley Beach last week. Large waves swept across the beach and over Golf Links Road at high tide dumping large quantities of sand and debris. Contractors worked on Thursday to clear the rocks and sand but the road was closed on Thursday evening for safety reasons. It reopened Friday but the Hurunui
District Council urged people to take extreme care due to soft spots in the road surface. ‘‘The road remains open at this time but this may change if the high tides continue. ‘‘Please be aware that we may need to close the road at short notice. ‘‘We will keep you informed of any changes. Please drive to the conditions,’’ the council says.