Federated Farmers Submission on Queenstown-Lakes District Council Proposed District Plan
Primary production activities are significant contributors to the economic, social and cultural well-being of the Queenstown Lakes district. These activities also have a positive impact on the economic sustainability and continued viability of many of the district’s rural areas and townships.
Queenstown Lakes is a unique district in terms of economic wellbeing particularly. While primary production activities directly provide for only a small proportion of the Queenstown Lakes District’s economic output, employment and business units, indirectly farming is a key contributor to the management of the landscapes and culture to those attracted to the District, particularly in respect to tourism.Our members strongly support a planning approach that recognises this principle role landowners fulfil as managers, stewards and funders (both financially and in terms of time and effort committed) of the regions natural and physical resources. They also support plans that are truly effects based and do not unnecessarily inhibit or pose constraints on farming activity, or impose unnecessary costs.
Landowners are proactive resource managers who rely on their properties natural and physical resources for their farming business. It is entirely in their best interest to manage their land sustainably, and it is in the best interests of those who rely on those landscapes to take a partnership approach with farmers to achieve these mutual objectives. Federated Farmers approaches the proposed Queenstown Lakes District Plan with a view to addressing four broad areas of concern expressed by farmers in the District:
1. It is increasingly critical to landowners that regulation is both reasonable and provides appropriate certainty. We are seeking that Council clearly defines an issue, considers the extent of the impact that issue is having on the District’s wellbeing, and then proposes a regulatory response to that issue that is cognisant of the costs being imposed on landowners. Most particularly this includes the costs of addressing uncertainty as a result of proposed provisions that are loose, too broad or subject to varying interpretations.
2. Farmers face an increasing number of compliance “hoops” to jump through in order to continue to farm. Where there is an already existing mechanism for achieving the same goal, farmers strenuously object to another set of regulations.
3. Farmers are the most efficient agents for achieving on-farm good practice and to that end we actively encourage non-regulatory methods to achieve and encourage good practices. There are substantial existing drivers for farmers to ensure that their on-farm practices meet environmental standards.
4. Increased regulation by councils translates into higher consent costs or rates for our members as well as other ratepayers. Farmers and communities are already heavily burdened by these costs and more council activity generally translates into higher council expenditure, higher consenting costs and higher rates.
Federated Farmers believes that when undertaking a district plan review it is essential that Council take into account and balances the economic, social, cultural and environmental considerations of any particular policy or provision. We consider that the emphasis often sways disproportionately towards environmental considerations and does not sufficiently account for the likely costs to plan users. While clear and necessary regulation is critical, it is also important that Council considers the implications for those working under that regulation.
We are seeking to ensure that Council recognise and consider the way these economic, social, cultural and environmental factors interact. Economically viable primary production in the District enables farmers to better contribute to positive environmental, social and cultural outcomes. On the other hand, a reduction in the economic viability of primary production not only reduces the economic wellbeing of the District, but in doing so reduces the potential to achieve positive environmental, social and cultural wellbeing. This should be a particular concern where additional costs or regulation have the potential to adversely impact management of the rural landscapes that form a large component of the District’s attraction to residents and visitors alike.
Federated Farmers fully supports the overall intention to appropriately recognise and enable primary production activities where appropriate, and to move to a more permissible approach for reasonable and compatible activities in the rural area.
For more, please see the full submission