Fears over Labour u-turn on land access

Farmers are sceptical about Labour's new pledge that it will not force farmers to open up strips of land for public access.

Associate Rural Affairs Minister Jim Sutton has already backpedalled on Labour's highly unpopular plan to open access to streams, lakes and rivers alongside private property.

But even though his office yesterday said there would be no post-election u-turn on the new position, farmers remain unconvinced, particularly if a Labour-Green coalition is elected.

"It's still interesting times," Otago high-country farmer John Aspinall said.

Green Party co-leader Rod Donald said yesterday that his party did not "at this time" support the blunt instrument of legislation to improve public access across farms and private land. Rather, it preferred to negotiate access.

However the Greens do want to review access in the future, which could lead to legislation.

In its rural policy, Labour said it remained committed to enhancing public access to publicly owned waterways.

Mr Sutton said a proposal to legislate for 5m walkways along land beside significant waterways had been abandoned.

The policy says there will be further consultation through the new panel set up by Mr Sutton last month after he shelved the plan in the face of strong public opposition.

Farmers had been vocal in their opposition, and two Herald-DigiPoll surveys this year also found opposition to the plan among city dwellers.

Mr Sutton said that although he would not instruct his new panel what to recommend, no 5m walkways by rivers and steams would be imposed.

His office yesterday confirmed that was his position, and his staff did not expect the panel to come back with such a proposal.

However, Labour might revisit plans to buy land from landowners to allow access strips.

But the National Party and the farmers remain unconvinced.

Mr Aspinall, a farmer appointee on the access panel, said that even though the minister had discarded the walking-strip plan, "potentially it could come back on" the table.

"If they are returned to government, and have a change of plan, it is possible.

"Certainly a lot of farmers are concerned the Government may change its mind."

A Federated Farmers spokesman said that although a campaign against the original plan might have "won the battle, there is still some uncertainty".

Mr Donald said the Greens had supported early on the use of an access commissioner to sort out where there could be better access, to improve signage and to develop a code of conduct for people wanting to reach waterways.