Welcome to the August 2020 edition of On-Stream
As always, there seems to be a lot happening in the water space – particularly the new rules and regulations affecting activities that may compromise waterway health. Rural landowners will be affected by the new rules, and we want to work with you to help you understand which rules apply when, and what they mean (see more below). On top of that, there's also the uncertainty around COVID-19 at the moment, so we hope you are seeking help and support if you need it, and reaching out to others to make sure they're OK.
Also in this edition is an update from our Rural Liaison Team, information on winter compliance flyovers, maintaining your water bore, and a reminder about expiring deemed permits.
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New national rules to protect NZ waterways
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| On 6 August, the government gazetted a range of new national rules and regulations aimed at protecting our waterways. This includes a new National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management (NPS-FM), National Environmental Standards for Freshwater (NES FW), stock exclusion regulations, and regulations in the measurement and reporting of water takes.
Significant policies that now have legal backing include:
- Councils must give effect to Te Mana o Te Wai by prioritising the health and wellbeing of our waterways
- Halting further loss of natural wetlands and streams
- Setting higher health standards at swimming spots
- Putting controls on high-risk farm practices such as winter grazing and feedlots
- Setting stricter controls on nitrogen pollution and new bottom lines on other measures of waterway health
- Requiring urban waterways to be cleaned up and new protections for urban streams
- Preserving and restoring the connectivity of New Zealand fish species’ habitats
- Making real-time measuring and reporting of data on water use mandatory.
Some of the new rules will take effect from 3 September, while some have a longer timeframe.
Information for farmers, horticulturalists, and others directly affected by the regulations, including information about what people need to do and when, is available at the Ministry for the Environment's website or here on our website.
You can read a factsheet from Beef+Lamb NZ and Federated Farmers assessing the new national provisions here.
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Update on proposed new Otago rules to protect water quality
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The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) notified the proposed Otago Water Quality Plan changes (Plan Change 8 to the Water Plan - "Omnibus", and Plan Change 1 to the Waste Plan) and the proposed Water Permits Plan Change on 6 July 2020 and submissions closed on 17 August.
We've made a submission on part of our own proposed Water Quality plan changes (Plan Change 8 - the 'Omnibus') to request the withdrawal of some proposed provisions due to potential duplication with new national rules. Find out more and read our submission here.
If you've made a submission to the EPA, don't forget to send a copy to us too, via policy@orc.govt.nz
If you're wondering what happens after you've lodged your submission, you can find out here.
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We know there are a lot of new rules and other changes to take in and understand. We’re here to help. You can find information about all the changes coming up here, as well as a timeline about what is happening when.
You can also contact our team on 0800 474 082 or by emailing us.
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We completed our annual winter flyovers last month, checking for compliance with sediment and water quality rules around the region. Compliance with our current rules was generally pretty good, but there will need to be some changes in land management before next winter if landowners are to be compliant with new national rules and regional rules. Read more about the new rules here: orc.govt.nz/NewWaterRulesIt's really important to begin planning for next winter's crops now. Some important things to consider:
- Make sure you're not cultivating, planting or planning to intensively graze Critical Source Areas (swales or other area that collect or channel surface water).
- How are you going to exclude stock from waterways? Is it best to put in a permanent fence before next winter or will a temporary fence get you through?
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Update from the Rural Liaison Team
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In August and September we're supporting the Go Dairy programme being hosted at the Southern Institute of Technology’s Telford campus. We'll be on hand to help deliver the good management and environmental considerations for dairy farming programme. There are several other training programmes coming up so please share this opportunity with anyone interested in a career in the primary sector.
In North Otago, Irrigation New Zealand have partnered with local organisations to launch a new web platform called "Know Your Catchment", which has a focus on water quality data, trends and information on irrigation, wetlands, recreation and different ways that freshwater supports wellbeing. Check out the site for the Waitaki catchment.
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Dead stock
You may have heard that slink skin collection services won't be operating in Otago this year so now's the time to plan how you're going to manage not only slink skins, but all dead stock disposal. Decomposing animals can contaminate waterways and groundwater with disease-causing bacteria and affect human or stock drinking water.
If you are planning on using an offal pit, make sure it is at least 50 meters from any waterways and 100 meters from any drinking water take, and avoid areas that are poorly drained, are covered in gravel, flood prone or have a high water table. The location of any offal pits should also be noted on your Farm Environment Plan. You can find information and rules about offal pits in Otago here.
Alternatively, you might like to consider composting any dead stock. This can be effective in areas with high water tables, but do require careful management. Information on how to do this can be found here.
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Deemed permits
A reminder that if you have a "deemed permit" (a historic water take right), it will expire on 1 October 2021. If you want to continue taking water after 1 October 2021, you will need to lodge a resource consent application (and have it accepted as complete by ORC), ideally by 1 April 2021, but by 1 July 2021 at the latest. Find out more. |
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Drinking water
Do you have a bore on your property? Is your bore head protected from contamination? It might be time to brush up your knowledge and check you're taking steps to prevent any contamination of your drinking water. Find out more |
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Pest of the month: boneseed
This pest shades out native seedlings and effects public access to the coastal and beaches. It's highly flammable, but it will come back strong after fire. It can produce up to 50,000 seeds per plant in one year! Find out more and how to control it here. |
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What's coming up?
28 August
East Otago Catchment Group field day
Planning your winter crops for 2021? Come along at 1.30 pm to Four Rivers Farms, Waikouaiti (signposted from corner of Ramrock Rd and SH1 Waikouaiti)
3 September
NOSLaM workshop - Intensive Winter Grazing and the new rules
There will be speakers from Federated Farmers and ORC. Weston Hall, Main Street, Weston, 11.00am
For a full list of Otago Regional Council meetings click here. |
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Feel free to forward this email to anyone who might like to read it. If you have been forwarded this email and would like to subscribe, please email us at water@orc.govt.nz.
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