Appendix 2Policy or legislation changes planned by the Government and their potential consequences for the safety of drinking water – more detail. This is likely to mean a return to a previous iteration of the NPS-FM, where drinking water was not given priority over commercial uses of water (eg, for irrigation). Prioritising property rights is likely to result in the further deprioritisation of the protection of the safety and quality of communities’ drinking water. This means projects could go ahead even if they are a risk to drinking water sources, either through pollution or otherwise degrading the waterbody (eg, taking too much water from the catchment in a way that impacts communities’ access to water). Projects under the Bill could include large-scale irrigation dams, which can have profound effects on the quality of drinking water sources as they promote the intensification of land use and lead to more pollution of waterways.24 Under the Bill, such projects would not be required to prove they would not impact communities’ drinking water sources.

Source: New Zealand Herald May 07, 2024 00:54 UTC