Re Otago Regional Council

COURT OR TRIBUNAL

Environment Court of New Zealand

DATE FILED (OR FIRST HEARING DATE)

08/03/2021

LITIGATION TYPE

Project Approval - Adaptation

SUBJECT MATTER

Water

REVIEW TYPE

Merits review

SUMMARY

Excerpt from judgment

[1] Over the next five years a significant proportion of permits authorising the take and use of water in Otago will expire. Included among these are hundreds of deemed permits, many of which originated during Otago’s goldrush. They authorise the taking of water in quantities large enough to sluice a goldfield and few, if any, conditions are attached as to the use of water.

[2] This plan change responds to the concerns held by the Minister for the Environment and by the Otago Regional Council that, were the expiring permits to be replaced, or indeed consent applications filed for previously unconsented activities, they will be considered under an operative regional plan that is not fit for purpose.

CASE DOCUMENTS

Re Otago Regional Council [2021] NZEnvC 164