11. Question No. 11—Rural CommunitiesMARK CAMERON (ACT) to the Minister for Rural CommunitiesQuestion No. 11—Rural Communities11. MARK CAMERON (ACT) to the Minister for Rural Communities: What advice has he requested or received on the impact Significant Natural Areas will have on rural communities?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister for Rural Communities): I've received several pieces of advice from the Ministry for Primary Industries over the last years as the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity continues to be developed. The national policy statement is not yet finalised and the impacts on rural communities will continue to be a consideration for Ministers as we work on finalising it.Mark Cameron: Has he heard from rural communities on the adverse impacts Significant Natural Areas could have on the use and value of their property?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: Yes I have received correspondence and talked with constituents in my area where they believe there will be an adverse impact on their communities. I've also spoken to many people from rural communities who live in those areas because they want to see that indigenous biodiversity retained and protected. And so there's a healthy discussion taking place and we'll manage this process very carefully.Mark Cameron: What does he say to farmers such as one in Tasman who found out through a letter from the council that their entire 600 acre property—which has been in his family for 100 years—has been designated a Significant Natural Area?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: I can't really comment on the individual property other than to congratulate his family I guess for protecting that biodiversity. Can I suggest that if they have remained on the property for that long I'd suggest they have a very good business model that has enabled them to protect the biodiversity and continue to farm or run a horticulture operation. Can I say that councils around the country have taken different approaches to how they identify and notify—not all those approaches have been sound. That's one of the very issues we're trying to address so that the obligation laid down in the Resource Management Act of 1991—that obligation to protect these areas has not been implemented by the vast majority of councils around the country; that's what Government is taking action on.Hon David Bennett: Will he confirm his statement in select committee this morning that there could be compensation to affected farmers in certain circumstances?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: What I said at the select committee is that if there's a proven loss of value then discussion needs to occur to ensure some fairness. There are a number of properties in my particular patch and all around the country where that's a fair discussion that needs to occur—there are no prejudged outcomes of that.Teanau Tuiono: Is the Minister satisfied that the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity will address concerns such as those raised in the Far North by ensuring councils' processes involve meaningful engagement with Māori?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: In summary yes. We have to ensure that there's proper consultation and engagement with iwi with landowners and indeed that's the process we're working through.Mark Cameron: Will he advocate as Minister for Rural Communities for compensation for farmers for any loss of use of their land from Significant Natural Areas?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: As I said at the select committee we have to ensure fairness in this process. There's a lot of I guess subjective judgment over valuations before and after and what might be a fair compensation claim—those things we're going to work through carefully.