Horizons Region councillors have unanimously revoked a resolution that riled environmental groups and helped spark an Environment Court case.
On Tuesday the full council voted to revoke a resolution made in June 2013. It allowed council officers to take the financial effect of One Plan rules into account when granting consent for nitrogen leaching that did not meet its limits.
Chief executive Michael McCartney and regulatory manager Nic Peet said the resolution was only followed in a few consents made soon after it - fewer than 10. And it was only partially followed by council officers.
"It would have been one thing, gently considered. They wouldn't have ignored their legal requirements."
Revoking the resolution was the first thing Fish and Game and the Environmental Defence Society wanted when they went to the Environment Court for rulings on the way the council has been giving restricted discretionary consents. The groups called the resolution unlawful, invalid and a contravention of the Resource Management Act.
That was for the court to decide, Mr McCartney said. The resolution needed to be revoked to "avoid any impression" it had influenced the granting of consents.
Similarly, the council was working with DairyNZ to change wording that implies getting consent is guaranteed in the DairyNZ publication Dairy Farming Under the One Plan.
Palmerston North Cr Rachel Keedwell voted against the resolution in 2013. She asked whether the council would change anything about the way it issues resource consents, as a result of revoking the resolution.
The environment groups in the court case have asked for six other changes to the way consents are granted.
"We are going to continue to issue consents in accordance with the One Plan and the Resource Management Act. That's been our practice right through this," Dr Peet said.
Ms Keedwell also wanted to make sure council officers didn't put a "flawed" resolution such as the one revoked before the council again.
Chairman Bruce Gordon said council officers would have been asked to write the resolution.
"The incentive to bring something back would have come from this table. Let's not blame staff for not getting it right."
Whanganui Cr Nicola Patrick said councillors needed to be very conscious of how much weight to give the various lobby groups they hear from - including farmers.
"We need to look at what weight we put on that particular group, and make sure the pendulum swings really nicely to the middle."
Mr McCartney and Manawatu-Rangitikei Cr Gordon McKellar both wanted to highlight the work the council is doing to improve the health of waterways.
The 200-plus consents granted so far have kept 100 tonnes of nitrogen out of rivers, Mr McCartney said.