SOUTH COASTAL CANTERBURY AREA SUB-REGIONAL SECTION 15

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1 SOUTH COASTAL CANTERBURY AREA SUB-REGIONAL SECTION MAJOR PATHWAYS The use of Farm Environment Plans throughout the catchment Good management practice requirements for agricultural, urban, and industrial discharges 2. This draft document is split into the following Sections Realising the gains from the Wainono project and a successor to the project Consented Waitaki water to provide for additional irrigation development Augmentation of Wainono Lagoon to improve lagoon health Restricting nitrogen load losses from the catchment. Capping current water allocation and reducing over-allocation over time as new water sources are available Signalling a future date for higher minimum flows to be implemented Enabling surface water swaps to deep groundwater where available WATER QUALITY Farm environment plans and good management practice Farming enterprise and nutrient user groups Flexibility caps Maximum caps Irrigation schemes Stock exclusion and sediment removal Augmentation of Wainono Lagoon and wetland development 3. PLAN PROVISIONS LAYOUT Provisions set out according to areas: All Areas- Northern Streams, Waihao-Wainono, and Morven- Sinclairs Northern Streams and Waihao-Wainono Areas Waihao-Wainono Area Morven-Sinclairs Area Irrigation Schemes Hill country Areas 4. PLAN PROVISIONS LAYOUT Introduction and other relevant plans Policies Rules Freshwater outcomes Water quality and quantity limits Any new Schedules WATER QUANTITY Overview Surface water Groundwater Alternative water sources

2 Farm environment plans and Good management practice 2. FEP s STAGED IN ORDER OF PRIORITY Waihao-Wainono and Northern Streams Areas Landowners discharging over the maximum cap to have FEP May Landowners discharging above the flexibility cap but not above their baseline and with intensively farmed stock to have FEP by January Landowners discharging above the flexibility cap but not above their baseline with non-intensively farmed stock to have FEP by January Landowners on steep hill country with intensive winter grazing blocks to have a FEP by January 2017 S The Zone Committee recommendation in the ZIP Addendum is that: All farms in Northern Streams and Waihao-Wainono Areas have Farm Environment Plans by 2017 and that they include in particular risks and mitigations to minimise phosphorous loss. In Morven-Sinclairs area the Zone Committee recommended that all farms are to have an FEP by FEP s STAGED IN ORDER OF PRIORITY Morven-Sinclairs Area 2017-Landowners discharging at or below their baseline with intensively farmed stock to have FEP by January 2017 Irrigation Schemes- All irrigation scheme shareholders to have a scheme farm environment plan by May 2015 Irrigation schemes- All irrigation scheme shareholders to have a scheme farm environment plan 4. DRAFT SUB-REGIONAL SECTION 15 Waihao-Wainono and Northern Streams Areas No FEP required For those under 5ha (about 2% of landowners in SCCS) and discharging below the flexibility cap, N loss calculation does not exceed the baseline if baseline is higher than the flexibility cap 5. GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICE For all urban, industrial and agricultural discharges in the South Coastal Canterbury Area FEP required- As part of consent for anything other than above FEP required As part of a nutrient user group or Farm enterprise FEP required- If a shareholder of an irrigation scheme FEP required- on each increase to a new flexibility cap Morven- Sinclairs Area No FEP required-for those under 5ha with non-intensively farmed stock FEP required- anything other than above and to farm intensively farmed stock

3 Farming enterprise and Nutrient user groups 1. FARMING ENTERPRISE- DRAFT SUB-REGIONAL SECTION 15 Farming Enterprise definition Means an aggregation of parcels of land held in single or multiple ownership (whether or not held in common ownership) that constitutes a single operating unit for the purpose of nutrient management. The farming enterprise is something that the Zone Committee support. The additional aspect that they wanted to see that is not currently in the LWRP provisions is that the farming enterprises are to operate within either the Northern Streams, Waihao-Wainono or Morven-Sinclairs Areas. The reason why they want to keep the farming enterprises within a geographical boundary is so that the nitrogen loads are not breached in any one area. Consent required to be part of a Farming enterprise Require a farm environment plan to be submitted with the application for consent Cannot discharge above the maximum cap on any one property Must operate within the either Waihao-Wainono, Northern Streams or Morven- Sinclairs Areas Prohibited if the above is not met 2. NUTRIENT USER GROUP- DRAFT SUB-REGIONAL SECTION 15 The nutrient user group concept developed from the NARG group. This allows for farmers to manage the nitrogen allocation without breaching the catchment load limit, providing additional flexibility for operations while protecting water quality. It came about as a way for those with lower nitrogen losses to be able to share N loads between themselves similar to a water users group, allowing those that would like access to more N load to be able to use any spare N load that another group member may offer. The Zone Committee agree and have recommended that the nutrient user group be provided for in the Sub-regional section. To be part of a nutrient user group the landowner cannot be a shareholder in an irrigation scheme or be in the hill country area identified in the Sub-regional section. Consent required- to be part of a nutrient user group Require a farm environment plan to be submitted with application for a consent Cannot discharge above the maximum cap on any individual property Must stay within the sum (across all properties) of the flexibility cap or the N baseline if the baseline is above the flexibility cap Must operate within a sub-catchment area Nutrient user group definition The managing of N load across properties operating as a collective within the same subcatchment Must submit an operating management plan on application for consent

4 Flexibility caps The flexibility cap developed from the NARG group in order to provide room for low emitters with an N baseline below the flexibility cap to be able to increase their operation and N loss up to the flexibility cap. The Zone Committee have recommended in their ZIP Addendum that they would like to see the flexibility cap in operation in the catchment. The flexibility cap is only to be offered in Northern Streams and Waihao-Wainono areas and not in the Morven-SInclairs area because in this area there is still some nitrogen load available. It is also to occur over time and in the Waihao-Wainono area is very dependent on augmentation of Wainono Lagoon occurring. The flexibility cap is also to occur over time and any increases rely on maximum caps and water quality outcomes being met and the augmentation of Wainono Lagoon. 2. FLEXIBILITY CAP INCREASES OVER TIME Waihao- Wainono Area Year Flexibility cap kg/n/ha/yr kg Once augmentation has occurred/ date 2030 and once maximum caps and water quality outcomes have been met Northern Streams Area Year 15kg 17kg Flexibility cap kg/n/ha/yr kg 3. DRAFT SUB-REGIONAL SECTION 15 No consent required If a property s nitrogen loss is at or below the flexibility cap or at the baseline if the baseline is over the flexibility cap signalled in the box to the left. Over time any increases to the new flexibility cap are permitted in the Waihao-Wainono catchment, firstly once augmentation has occurred, and secondly once the maximum caps and water quality outcomes have been met. The Northern Streams area increase does not require augmentation to have occurred. Prior to any increase to the new flexibility cap, the property owner must notify CRC of their intention to increase. Prohibited If above is not met. Consent required if increase N loss above the baseline. There are 2 ways landowner s can increase above the flexibility cap or baseline if baseline higher than the flexibility cap 1) if part of a nutrient user group 2) if a shareholder of an irrigation scheme with full or dry shares and once maximum caps and water quality outcomes have been met Morven-Sinclairs Area No flexibility cap Hill country Area No flexibility cap 17kg Flexibility cap definition The amount of nitrogen a landowner can discharge in the Northern Streams and Waihao-Wainono Areas without requiring consent.

5 Maximum caps Maximum caps in the South Coastal Canterbury Area developed from the NARG group and the Zone Committee recommended them in their ZIP Addendum. Maximum caps have been recommended for three reasons: 1. To put a line in the sand as to the maximum acceptable nitrogen load that a property can emit on a particular soil type in the catchment. If the water quality outcomes are being met, then the gains made from the reductions to the maximum caps are available to: 2. Provide for the increases in flexibility cap to 17kg/N/ha/yr and; 3. To provide for any existing high emitters on XL soils that are unable to meet the 35kg maximum cap 3. DRAFT SUB-REGIONAL SECTION 15 Existing users in Northern Streams and Waihao-Wainono Areas Consent required from 2015 if a property s nitrogen discharge is above the maximum cap then must have; FEP that sets out actions to reduce nitrogen loss to maximum cap by 2025 Consent required If on XL soils and discharging above the maximum cap From 2025 Prohibited to discharge above maximum caps unless on XL soils and meet high test 2. MAXIMUM CAPS Waihao- Wainono and Northern Streams Areas Soil type XL, VL,L M,H,D Pd, Pdl Maximum cap kg/n/ha/yr 35kg 25kg 20kg Hill Country Area (Hurunui soils ) New Users and HDI/WD Achieve Immediately For all soil types Year Maximum cap All Users kg/n/ha/yr kg Achieve immediately Morven-Sinclairs No Maximum cap Exisiting users In 2015 if above max cap Have FEP to show path to reduce to maximum cap by 2025 No consent required If a property s nitrogen loss is at or below the maximum cap, however likely a consent will be required, especially if want to increase above the flexibility cap or baseline. New Users and HDI/WD in Northern Streams and Waihao-Wainono Areas Prohibited to discharge nitrogen above the maximum cap No consent required If a property s nitrogen loss is at or below the maximum cap, however likely a consent will be required, especially if want to increase above the flexibility cap or baseline. Hill Country Maximum cap definition The maximum acceptable nitrogen loss for each soil type listed in and shown in map for the Northern Streams, Waihao-Wainono and Hill Country Areas. Prohibited to increase above the maximum cap in the hill country

6 Irrigation Schemes The Zone Committee view irrigation schemes as a necessity in the South Coastal Canterbury Area and see them as a way to increase economic development while meeting the environmental outcomes. 2. DRAFT SUB-REGIONAL SECTION 15 Irrigation schemes are required to manage within their designated nitrogen loads Can offer full irrigation shares or dry shares All irrigation schemes to convert nitrogen concentration limits to nitrogen loads by Acknowledge that augmentation of Wainono Lagoon from a scheme is crucial in meeting water quality outcomes and for economic development Consent is required for irrigation schemes to allocate their nitrogen load- as part of this a nitrogen accounting system needs to be in place, all scheme holders to have FEPS, if the scheme shareholder has a total nitrogen load made up scheme load and individual load then the irrigation scheme carries out the accounting for the total nitrogen load. Prohibited to discharge above the maximum cap Prohibited for an irrigation scheme shareholder to hold dry shares from more than one scheme or be part of a nutrient user group

7 Stock exclusion and sediment removal Stock exclusion The Zone Committee did not make any recommendations in their ZIP Addendum regarding stock exclusion. Sediment removal They did however make several recommendations to halt sedimentation of rivers and streams in the South Coastal Canterbury Area. A major way they would like to do this is through the use of farm environment plans and the Wainono restoration project. 2. DRAFT SUB-REGIONAL SECTION 15 Stock exclusion The sub-regional section is not proposing to change the LWRP rules around stock exclusion apart from adding that they also apply to drains. The rules in LWRP set out what does not require a consent and what does require a consent in relation to stock exclusion Sediment removal Sediment removal for fine sediment has been included in other Sub-regional sections- Selwyn/Waihaora and Hinds Plains. Even though the Zone Committee didn t specifically ask for the Sub-regional section to include the specific provisions they have agreed that sediment removal provisions would be useful. Consent required to disturb the bed of the river to remove fine sediment less than 2mm in diameter for the purpose of restoration as long a s several conditions are met.

8 Augmentation of Wainono Lagoon and wetland development The Zone Committee have recognised the augmentation of Wainono Lagoon as being critical. Augmentation facilitates further development at GMP, while achieving the water quality outcomes. It is recognised in the ZIP Addendum that if augmentation does not occur then the requirement to do significantly better than GMP will be needed in the catchment. The Zone Committee did not recommend that the Sub-regional section contain any specific provisions about wetland development. They have included recommendations in the ZIP Addendum regarding the Wainono restoration project. The Zone Committee aim is for the Trophic level index of the lagoon to reduce from its current score of TLI 6.5 to TLI DRAFT SUB-REGIONAL SECTION 15 Augmentation of Wainono Lagoon for water quality purposes There are several rules in the Sub-regional section that are connected to the augmentation of Wainono Lagoon occurring such as increases in flexibility caps in Waihao-Wainono Area only being allowed once augmentation has occurred. Wetland development Wetland development provisions have been added in order to enable the Wainono restoration project and the augmentation of Wainono Lagoon. These provisions have conditions attached to them and apply to the Waihao-Wainono Area. No consent required to enhance, restore or create a wetland to control the discharge of water for augmenting Wainono Lagoon as long as it is certified by CRC, construction process is managed, livestock is controlled etc Consent required for anything that does not comply with the above

9 Water Quantity Overview The Zone Committee have made a number of recommendations regarding water quantity. This includes reducing allocation blocks and increasing minimum flows in 2025, if alternative sources of irrigation scheme water are available. To achieve the future flow and allocation regimes the following recommendations were made: Introduce a flow and allocation regime based on manawhenua flows; and Require more efficient use of water; and Promote out of catchment water; and Require recording of water use; and Allow swapping of existing surface water takes to deep groundwater; and Surrender unused water and not reallocate; and Provide for on- farm-storage 2. GENERAL Setting flow and allocation regimes for 11 different water bodies in the SCCS area Existing community and stock water supplies are protected Water from irrigation schemes is prioritised over run-of-river takes Easier for stream depleting groundwater takes to know whether they need a minimum flow or not Flow Protection Zones Confirming existing or establishing new B Block allocations except on springs Minimum flows and partial restrictions on all waterways Allowing transfers within the property boundary and to new owners of the property only facilitate more efficient use of water Allowing surface water consents to switch to deep groundwater for a limited time Requiring metering on all takes 5L/s or more Requiring everyone to be allocated what they need to abstract for their landuse only Not allow any surrendered water to be reallocated 3. HOW MUCH WATER DO YOU NEED? Before 20 December 2021 plwrp Schedule 10 Reasonable Use tests From 21 December OTAIO SPECIFIC SOLUTION Discussions are on-going and a solution is yet to be finalised Agreeing on current restrictions Manage takes by a 7 day volume Minimum flow put in place Reduce volumes as the flow approached minimum flow (partial restrictions) Encourage a water user group to be established to manage their takes in low flow times Allocation for storage Still to be discussed what is the aspiration allocation in 2025 plwrp method 1 of Schedule 10 - Demonstrated how much water is being used, using water records

10 Surface water To achieve the future flow and allocation regimes the following recommendations were made: Introduce a flow and allocation regime based on manawhenua flows; and Require more efficient use of water; and Promote out of catchment water; and Require recording of water use; and Surrender unused water and not reallocate; and Allow swapping of existing surface water takes to deep groundwater 4. ACCESS TO ALTERNATIVE WATER Irrigation water is the main option for new abstractors Allowing on farming storage provided the rivers are not put under stress to naturally function and groundwater aquifers can recharge Existing surface water permits are enabled to swap to deep groundwater 3. DRAFT SUB-REGIONAL SECTION 15 There is no new water available other than some limited high flows. Allocation needs to come down to reduce stress on in-stream, recreational and cultural values. The proposed sub-regional section requires those to have a hard look at their current allocation and find ways of making improvement. Consent required - to take for surface water Cannot ask for more water than on the original surface water consent Must surrender unused surface water Must demonstrate using historical records what water is needed for the land (See How much water do you need ) Demonstrate that you will be irrigating with efficiency of 80%, while providing for nine out of ten years reliability (consistent with plwrp) 2. TIMING OF THE FLOW AND ALLOCATION REGIME Between 1 April May 2025 Require telemetering on all takes 5 L/s or more Allowing transfers within the property boundary and to new owners of the property only facilitate more efficient use of water Current regime with minimum flows Access to irrigation scheme water or from???? Revised manawhenua flow and allocation regime

11 Groundwater 5. MONITORING 4. ACCESS TO ALTERNATIVE WATER To achieve the future flow and allocation regimes the following recommendations were made: Require more efficient use of water; and Promote out of catchment water; and Require recording of water use; and Surrender unused water and not reallocate; and Allow swapping of existing surface water takes to deep groundwater; and Cap groundwater allocation at current allocation Groundwater levels will be monitored to note changes and provide more information for the next plan review in Irrigation water is the main option for new abstractors Allowing on farming storage provided the rivers are not put under stress to naturally function and groundwater aquifers can recharge Existing surface water permits are enabled to swap to deep groundwater 2. DRAFT SUB-REGIONAL SECTION 15 There is no new water available. Current understanding of water usage is that many abstractors are not using their full allocation even in dry years. The proposed sub-regional section requires those to have a hard look at their current allocation and find ways of making improvement. Consent required Cannot ask for more water than on the original surface water consent Must surrender unused groundwater Must demonstrate using historical records what water is needed for the land (See How much water do you need ) Demonstrate that you will be irrigating with efficiency of 80%, while providing for nine out of ten years reliability (consistent with plwrp) Require groundwater takes 30metres or less in depth within a Flow protection zone to have a minimum flow on their consent Require telemetering on all takes 5 L/s or more Allowing transfers within the property boundary and to new owners of the property only facilitate more efficient use of water Flow Protection Zones 3. GROUNDWATER ALLOCATION Otaio, Makikihi, Hook and Waimate groundwater allocations will be capped at the existing consented allocation Exception is Waihao and Whitneys which stays as the notified plwrp limit No new groundwater consents except for those able to switch from surface water

12 Alternative water sources To achieve the future flow and allocation regimes the following recommendations were made: Require more efficient use of water; and Promote out of catchment water; and Require recording of water use; and Surrender unused water and not reallocate; and Allow swapping of existing surface water takes to deep groundwater; and Provide for on- farm-storage 2. On-Farm Storage - DRAFT SUB-REGIONAL SECTION 15 There is no new surface water available and many of the water ways are considered overallocated. To provide an alternative path the Zone Committee have agreed to allow high flows to be taken for on-farm storage. On applying for on-farm-storage the applicant will be required to ensure their take along with others will not put stress on the environment. Consent required with stringent tests to achieve Cannot be from a spring or a wetland Must demonstrate that the take with others will allow the river to flush out periphyton and fine sediment Must show that natural connectivity of the river is maintained for as long as possible Consideration that the groundwater aquifers are being sufficiently recharged 1. Switch to deep groundwater- DRAFT SUB-REGIONAL SECTION 15 There is no new surface water available and many of the water ways are considered overallocated. To provide an alternative path the Zone Committee have agreed to enabling existing surface water abstractors an opportunity to take groundwater that is greater than 30m in depth. They will be required to show how much they need to efficiently irrigate their land. Consent required - to take from deep GW Must not affect existing abstractors 3. IRRIGATION SCHEME Taking water from an irrigation scheme will be encouraged throughout the whole SCCS area Require to be an existing SW abstractor Cannot ask for more water than on the original surface water consent Must submit application by 20 December 2021 Must not be connected with a surface water body Must demonstrate using historical records what water is needed for the land (See How much water do you need ) Must not affect existing deep groundwater consents Must surrender surface water take when groundwater take is approved

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