Otago regional councillors Gary Kelliher and Michael Laws are warning staff that pushing on with the Regional Land and Water Plan will just invite ministerial intervention.

The Government has indicated new changes to the national framework for freshwater management, and in late 2023 asked regional councils around the country to hold fire on any more work, awaiting future direction.

But, the ORC stated late last year, and voted again on Wednesday, to proceed with its draft plan after five years' work, and is still on track to formally notify it by June 30.

A motion was put to the table by Cr Kelliher, asking that the council heads the strong recommendation by the Minister for the Environment and delay the work, and formally request the June 30 deadline be extended - to ensure the plan was fit for purpose, robust and defendable.

Cr Laws backed his Central Otago counterpart and shared some strong words around the table, when they failed to gain support by fellow councillors, accusing the council of playing a dangerous game of “chicken” with the new Government.

“I’m warning you now, you will invite commissioners into this council, because you refuse to accept the consequences of last year’s election and the strong ministerial guidance, and this council will deserve not to exist, because in the game of chicken, it still wants to play.”

Cr Kate Wilson said the Land and Water Plan would never be perfect and by waiting for a new direction from the Government was just holding things up further.

Chair Gretchen Robertson said she didn’t think the council was divided on the issue, and assured councillors that nobody wanted to waste anyone’s time or ratepayer money.

“We are considering really carefully where we are at, at the moment.”

Acknowledging the region’s water quality issues and those around water allocation, “we have some short term consents in place that need sorted out,” she said they were just trying to work with the communities for the best outcome for everyone.

CEO Richard Saunders said in the absence of any direction from the new Government, the current draft policy will stand.

Cr Laws also questioned whether staff intended to share the draft policy with ministers before they delivered it back to them around the table.

“Because there are some very important decisions and I don’t want to end up in a collision course with the Government.”

National has indicated it could be 18-24 months before a new National Policy Statement on freshwater management was released, but it was understood that work hadn’t started yet.