Project discussion: Remove the farmer exemption from the RMA
Resource Management (Farming Inclusion) Amendment Bill
Member's Bill
Explanatory Note
Farming is a highly polluting activity. However, due to an exemption in the law, it does not in and of itself require resource consent. Farmers may require consents to errect milking sheds, store and discharge effluent, or take water for irrigation. But they do not require resource consent for the basic act of sticking cows in a field and having them shit everywhere.
This bill amends the Resource Management Act to allow the pollution caused by farming to be directly controlled.
Resource Management (Farming Inclusion) Amendment Bill
The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows:
1. Title
This Act is the Resource Management (Farming Inclusion) Amendment Act 2009.
2. Commencement
This Act shall come into force on 1 April 2010.
3. Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to amend the Resource Management Act to permit greater control of farming.
4. Principal Act Amended
This Act amends the Resource Management Act 1991.
5. Farming included
(1) Section 2(1) is amended by repealing the definition of "production land".
(2) The definition of industrial or trade premises in section 2(1) is amended by omitting the words "but does not include any production land".
6. Transitional Provisions
(TBD)
