|
Resolutions
1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the
“Future Management of Water Takes on the Heretaunga Plains” staff
report.
2. The Environment and Services Committee recommends that Council:
2.1. Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the
criteria contained in Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement
Policy, and that Council can exercise its discretion and make decisions on
this issue without conferring directly with the community and persons likely
to be affected by or to have an interest in the decision.
2.2. Endorses the proposed approach for the interim management of
groundwater resources in the Heretaunga Plains detailed following, and requests
urgent presentation of long term solutions to meet water demands.
To provide for the interim management of groundwater
resources in the Heretaunga Plains through the following approaches,
distinguishing between existing resource consents and new resource consents.
Existing
resource consents
1. Existing
resource consents for groundwater takes can be exercised within the
conditions set when the consent was issued (or any subsequent review of
conditions).
2. A
consent holder can use more water than previously, provided the take is
within the maximum rates and volume set out in the consent document and
providing the take is for the purpose set out in the consent document and, in
the case of irrigation, does not exceed the soil moisture deficit.
3. Should
a resource consent expire before new rules are in place they may be replaced
for up to the same amount, although it is likely that greater scrutiny may be
made of the need for the amount that is applied for.
4. Changes
to existing consents that do not increase the overall annual allocation or
increase actual use may be able to be granted. For example, amendments to
rates of take or weekly abstraction volumes will not increase the annual
allocation, increase actual abstraction or cause additional stream depletion
effects. In some highly connected areas, increases in short term rates and
volumes may increase stream depletion effects, and this will need further
assessment at the time of an application.
Stock
or Domestic Water takes
5. Takes
for an individual’s stock and/or domestic needs on the property are
able to continue to occur without the need for a resource consent, in
accordance with the Resource Management Act.
Permitted
Activity Takes
6. The
Regional Resource Management Plan (RRMP) allows for a permitted activity take
of up to 20m3/day to be taken for use on a property. It is not proposed to
change this at this stage, although it may be adjusted during the Plan Change
process.
Frost
protection takes
7. Takes
for frost protection may continue as consented and a case may be put for
taking water for frost protection purposes for existing horticultural
activities.
Transfer
of existing consents or parts of consents
8. Where
a property is sold and the transfer is to the new owner the consent can be
exercised as before.
9. If
a take is proposed to be transferred to another property in its entirety or
if it is proposed to divide a consent and transfer unused water to another
property or use then the transfer is likely be declined as it will lead to
increased water demand and use. (There may be circumstances where no more
than the current recorded use will occur, indicating no change in existing
effect.)
New
applications for groundwater take resource consents
10. If a resource
consent application was received by Council prior to 18 August it will
continue to be processed as done previously.
11. Any new
resource consent application that had been the subject of discussions with
HBRC before 18 August, and which the applicant can demonstrate has involved a
reasonable capital or tangible investment, will be processed. If consent is
granted conditions will be included to identify that:
11.1. The
consent will be subject to review when the TANK plan change becomes operative
if the Plan Change sets limits that are exceeded.
11.2. The
consent may be subject to a lower priority when the Plan Change takes effect
and/or may be issued for a shorter period to reflect the uncertainty of this
water being taken longer term.
12. Any resource
consent application which is not covered by either 12.10 or 12.11 will be
required to provide scientific evidence that the allocation of the water
sought can be made without adding to the current cumulative adverse effect of
takes on the Heretaunga Plains aquifer and on the connected surface flows. In
practice. This may be difficult to demonstrate. These applications will be
notified.
13.
This is an interim approach for dealing with
new applications until such time as the TANK Plan Change has legal effect. It
is anticipated that, consistent with the NPS FM (2017), the TANK Plan Change
will set groundwater and surface water allocation limits. If these are less
than what is currently allocated then this is likely to include methods for
reducing allocation over time so that specified allocation limits or targets
are met within a specified timeframe. It is also anticipated that methods
such as storage and augmented releases may be developed to offset some of the
effects of abstraction enabling a smaller reduction in the overall
allocation, and potentially allowing for more water to be allocated.
Graham/Bailey
carried
6/ 2
For: Belford, Bailey, Graham, Kirton,
Gregory, Paku
Against: Hewitt, Wilson
Abstained: Dick
|
