5. Land Protection and Improvement
a. Flood control and land drainage
Flood control and land drainage projects require environmental permits under the Resource Management Act, and new drainage schemes are virtually nonexistent. Projected expenditure for capital investment and maintenance in this category totalled $41.6 million in 1994/95. The benefits of these schemes tend to be geographically confined, and thus councils typically finance them with special property taxes on the beneficiaries. For 1994/95, councils planned to recover $32.7 million from beneficiaries.
The intention of past and present Government policy was to support initial construction of flood protection and land drainage schemes, but that local communities would be responsible for maintenance. Many rural schemes received government funding on the expectation of intensification of land use and an associated ability to pay for maintenance. Where these expectations have not been realised, the direct beneficiaries have had difficulty meeting maintenance costs. This is the case for several small rural schemes. In some cases, regional councils make up the funding shortfall. Central government grants for construction have largely been eliminated (see Table 1).
Implementing agency: Regional councils.
b. Pest management
i. Pest control operations
A number of animals and plants introduced into New Zealand since European settlement have become major agricultural pests. Predominant amongst these are the brush-tailed possum and rabbits. Local government authorities have for many years helped to control these and other pests, usually through direct operations. Apart from landowners' individual activities, most pest control is carried out by regional councils. Funding has come both from regional property taxes and from special assessments on beneficiaries. Objectives of control include protection of vegetation, soil quality and livestock health, as well as protection of native flora and fauna which are vulnerable to the introduced species. Possums in particular have caused major damage to native forests, with significant effects on native fauna.
Regional councils have regulations requiring that landowners control specified noxious weeds on their property. Where landowners neglect this responsibility, councils have the authority to carry out the weed control and charge costs to the landowner.
The Biosecurity Act 1993 provides for pest control operations under national or regional pest management strategies, which must specify the costs and benefits of control, who benefits, and proposed funding mechanisms. Any individual or group can propose a pest management strategy, which takes effect if it is approved by the Minister of Agriculture (for national strategies) or the relevant regional council. Although some central and local government funding for pest control operations continues, it is expected that private beneficiaries will contribute a greater share in the future, some of it through mandatory levies.
Planned expenditure on pest control by regional councils totalled $39.2 million in 1994/95, of which $17.4 million is to be recovered from users and $3.5 million is projected to be received from the Animal Health Board for contracted operations.
The Animal Health Board is an industry body which is managing the control of possums and other vectors of bovine tuberculosis. Of its projected 1994/95 budget of $34.8 million, $9.8 million comes from central government, $3.5 million from regional councils, and $21.5 million from agricultural industry sources, mainly through levies. Control operations are typically contracted to regional councils.
Through MAF, central government is contributing $9.84 million to the Animal Health Board in 1994/95. MAF has budgeted $0.5 million for administration of the Biosecurity Act.
Implementing agency: Regional councils; Animal Health Board; Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF)
| Budget: | $39.2 million (regional councils, 1994/95) | $10.3 million (Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, 1994/95) |
ii. Pest and disease surveillance
MAF provides surveillance of domestic animal and plant populations in order to detect presence of unwanted organisms and to maintain an accurate assessment of plant and animal health status.
Implementing agency: Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries;
1994/95 Budget: $8.962 million
iii. Emergency Response Capability
MAF maintains a capability to respond to incursion of unwanted organisms which could become a serious problem if left unchecked. Emergency responses are rare, but control or eradication efforts may be required at short notice. The Biosecurity Act 1993 provides the legal basis for emergency response.
Implementing agency: Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries;
iv. Quarantine and Border Protection
MAF provides border control and post-entry quarantine services in accordance with the provision of the Biosecurity Act 1993. This includes clearance of aircraft, vessels, passengers, cargo and mail, and also post-entry quarantine facilities. In addition, MAF investigates suspected illegal imports of plant and animal material and identifies intercepted organisms. Revenue from user charges is projected to be $5.2 million in 1994/95, with net government funding of $8.64 million.
Implementing agency: Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries;
1994/95 Budget: $13.84 million
c. Soil conservation
See subsection 2 above.
Contact for Enquiries
MAF Information Services
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
Fax: +64 4 894 0721
Contact this person
