Fish & Game are slamming a Government consultation document on freshwater, warning it will weaken environmental protections already in place.

They've also labelled the ‘Next steps for fresh water: Consultation document' as a 'smokescreen” which they believe undermines the Resource Management Act and water conservation orders.

Fish & Game have slammed a recently-released Government consultation document which aims to improve New Zealand's fresh water quality. Photo: File

Released on Friday, the document puts forward 23 initiatives to improve New Zealand's freshwater quality.

Fish & Game chief executive Bryce Johnson says the document is a 'win for agriculture and a defeat for the environment”.

'This document is all about furthering water-based development at the expense of the environment. There is no solid reference to recreation, food gathering or making rivers swimmable,” says Bryan.

Two initiatives specifically in Fish & Game's crosshairs are national regulations to stop stock accessing waterways, and amending the Resource Management Act in regards to water conservation orders.

Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says national regulations are needed to prevent stock accessing waterways because regional councils make their own rules – but most have not done so.

'These proposed regulations set a clear timetable starting with all dairy and pig farms by July 2017, and progressively including dairy support, beef and deer farms relative to steepness of country by 2030.”

But Bryan feels these time frames are completely out of step with public sentiment, saying the recent outcry over cattle in Lake Taylor in Canterbury demonstrates Kiwi's thinking on this issue.

'Cattle don't have to be fenced out of water until 2030. Dairy cattle aren't completely excluded from our waters until 2025. This will just create a water pollution legacy for future generations.

'The present plan is nothing more than continuing the environmental subsidy to farmers by leaving taxpayers and ratepayers to pick up the hefty bill to clean up agriculture's mess.”

He's also shocked the Government is looking to amend the RMA to allow the Environment Minister to delay water conservation orders applications if they conflict with regional planning processes.

The document states that because orders are not well integrated into regional planning it creates 'duplication of effort”.

'We propose to amend the RMA to…ensure WCOs are better integrated into regional planning processes,” the document reads.

'We also propose to allow councils to recommend to the Minister for the Environment that [an order] be created over a water body that they have identified as having outstanding values during regional planning.”

Bryan says water conservation orders are the equivalent of National Park status for waterways, but the Government wants to change the law to make them subservient to regional planning processes.

'The very process the orders were created to sit above. This proposal would be the beginning of the end for water conservation orders, completely reversing the hierarchy of the present law,” says Bryan.

Public submissions on the Next step on freshwater: Consultation Document are now open and close April 22.

To view the consultation document or to make a submission visit the Ministry for the Environment website at: www.mfe.govt.nz/node/21620