Government ministers and Otago Regional councillors have met behind closed doors to find a way forward in the lead up to the Land and Water Regional Plan decision.

The meeting with Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds and Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay took place in Dunedin last Friday.

Councillors attended in person and by zoom however regional council chair Gretchen Robertson and Cr Bryan Scott were unable to attend due to personal matters.

Dunstan ward councillor Gary Kelliher told The Central App the Ministers were interested in why the Regional Council was still determined to notify its Land and Regional Water Plan (LRWP).

While no final decision will be made until October 23, the regional council has been split 7-5 up until now in support of the plan still being publicly notified, despite the Ministers trying to dissuade them otherwise.

Cr Kelliher along with fellow Dunstan ward councillor Michael Laws, Moeraki councillor Kevin Malcolm, Kate Wilson, of Molyneux and former chair Andrew Noone, of the Dunedin ward, were advocating to pause the plan.

Cr Kelliher said it was clear from the meeting the Government’s recent offer to be involved in initial planning in the new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, was only on the table if the plan was paused, “and they were keen for us to do that ASAP,” he said.

The changes in the new policy framework were going to be substantial, “and they want the red tape taken away from farmers”, he said.

Regional councils were substantially growing in staff numbers and tied up in regulations and enforcement, which was becoming increasingly unmanageable for the rural sector, Cr Kelliher said.

“The environment must be protected but we want production back as well.”

Queenstown-based Alexa Forbes representing the ORC in the Dunstan ward, is still in favour of the Land and Water Regional Plan being notified next week. SUPPLIED

Dunstan ward councillor Alexa Forbes, who was a strong advocate for the LRWP to be notified, said despite the new offer on the table from the Ministers, her position remained the same.

“Because I haven’t heard any argument that would move it at this point, but I’m open to any new discussion,” she said.

Cr Kelliher said the meeting went for just over an hour, and showed the integrity of the Government, “and that they want the best for the ORC, and they don’t want to burden the ratepayers with the massive amount of changes that are coming.”

The Central App approached Minister Simmonds for comment however there was no response at time of publication.