Two years ago, Environment Canterbury introduced Plan Change 5, which introduced restrictions on nutrient runoff and set ambitious targets for cleaning up the region's rivers. But it turns out that just like central government on climate change, they've set targets without any effective policies to reach them:
Massey University freshwater ecologist Mike Joy says Environment Canterbury's proposals to clean up Canterbury's rivers lack teeth and won't stop the ongoing decline.
Dr Joy's comments come in the wake of ECan's plan to make 92 per cent of all rivers in the region swimmable by 2030.
He was sceptical that ECan's approach would achieve the goals, particularly with its apparent reliance on farm environment plans.
"The plans are nothing if they're not adhered to and properly monitored. It's like saying having a crash plan will stop drivers from crashing."
Joy said the levels of nitrate allowed in ECan's plan would simply lead to more degradation.
[...]
ECan declined to give specific information as to how much meeting those targets will cost the ratepayers, and what specific projects it will undertake to ensure it meets the targets.
And he's right. Restrictions mean nothing unless they're monitored and enforced, and targets are just hot air if they're combined with allowable levels of pollution which will result in them not being met. While any improvement in Canterbury's water is welcome, this is just the council failing to do its job of protecting the rivers for everyone.
The scary thing is that even these weak, unmonitored restrictions are too much for farmers - Federated Farmers and a host of irrigators are challenging the new rules in court. And if they get their way, they'll get to keep on destroying Canterbury's rivers and turning them into toxic sewers for their private profit.
