On-Stream
Rates
It’s that time of year – when the rates invoices arrive. If you’d like to spread your payments out, check out www.orc.govt.nz/rates/ways-to-pay. By setting up your direct debit via our website, you can arrange to pay in three instalments (and avoid the penalty for late payment which otherwise applies from 1 November). Any direct debits need to be set up online by 7 October.
If you’d like the full picture of what your rates fund, check out our Long Term Plan 2018-2028 – this document sets our budget and workplan and shows what your rates pay for, as well as other sources of income. Thanks to those who gave us their feedback on the draft long term plan earlier this year.
Dairy inspections
Dairy inspections will be starting again at the beginning of September. Properties that will be given priority for inspection this season are those that meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Located in a catchment with poor or declining water quality
- Those with less than 30 days storage
- Those using travelling irrigators (or similar high rate application systems)
- Those with inadequate fail-safe systems
We will also conduct complaint-based inspections.
Compliance flyover
The compliance team recently completed their second flyover inspection for the winter season. These are carried out to get a birds-eye view over larger areas, which aren't easily covered from the ground.
Any concerns are followed up with boots-on-the-ground to engage with the stakeholders involved.
Overall there are good farm practices out there but it’s important for farmers to be aware of where they are putting their winter grazing paddocks and to be cautious when having them beside waterways and drains. If this is the only place they can graze, then have mitigation measures in place so there are no sediment discharges.
Minimum flows process
Information sessions were held in July and August for the Arrow, Upper Cardrona, and Manuherikia catchments. The purpose of these sessions was to present the technical science and data that will inform the proposed minimum flow limits. In addition,
Chief Executive Sarah Gardner held appointment sessions with the Manuherikia catchment in Omakau. The notification date of the plan change has been extended and is expected to be notified by May 2019. Prior to notification, all technical reports will be completed and made available on the YourSay website.
Happy reading,
The ORC team
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Feature: New forestry rules
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Do you have a forestry block on your farm? If so, there are new rules you need to know about.
The National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF) came into effect on 1 May this year. These are nationally-consistent regulations that apply to activities in plantation forests of one hectare or more throughout New Zealand.
Previously, the effects of plantation forestry activities on water in Otago were managed under rules in the Water Plan, which applied to the effects on water of land-based activities in general. The NES-PF allows regional plans to have stricter rules for plantation forestry if they support an objective in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM).
The Otago Regional Council (ORC) has approved an amendment to the Water Plan (Amendment 2, NES Plantation Forestry). The amendment took effect on 1 July and clarifies where more stringent rules in the Water Plan continue to apply to forestry activities.
ORC has rules in the Water Plan (sections 12.C and 13.5) that relate to discharges of sediment and bed disturbance. These rules give effect to Objective 1A of the NPS-FM, which seeks:
To safeguard the life-supporting capacity, life-supporting processes and indigenous species, including their associated ecosystems of fresh water.
One of the key reasons for retaining these rules in Otago is to help protect threatened, indigenous and non-migratory fish (galaxiid species), many of which are only found in Otago.
Amendment 2 provides notes at the start of sections 12.C and 13.5 to clarify which rules prevail over NES-PF regulations. It also adds a new schedule to the plan that summarises which rules (Water Plan or NES-PF) apply in Otago from 1 July 2018.
For more information about the NES-PF or Amendment 2 please see the ORC’s website: www.orc.govt.nz/forestry
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| Updates from your liaison specialists |
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Bruce Monaghan - Central Otago
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Applications and timing of written approvals from affected parties
Over time, uncertainty has been expressed as to when you need to liaise with and obtain written approval from affected parties for an application to replace a deemed permit or renew an RMA resource consent surface take.
When you are preparing an application, you ought to consult with the three statutory groups, iwi, DOC and Fish & Game, as early as possible. Consultants involved in consent preparation and ORC can forward these contacts to you on request. They become the affected parties to your application and will provide their written approvals.
Written approvals can help applications to be processed more efficiently, even though they are not required. DOC and Fish & Game have signalled that they prefer to reach a verbal agreement, and then provide their written approval on request from ORC after the application has been lodged.
However they still may wish to forward the written approval prior to the application being lodged where the application is more straightforward (e.g. when there is no fish data when surveyed).
Iwi will generally provide their written approval prior to lodging. Please be aware that iwi interests are now managed by Auhaka (previously called Kai Tahu Ki Otago).
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Over the last month you may have seen me at one of the many Beef and Lamb Land Environment Planning (LEP) workshops. These workshops give ORC an opportunity to clarify questions that farmers may have about the Water Plan and how these regulations may influence their LEPs.
LEPs are a great way to identify the environmental risks on your property as well as opportunities for managing your farm’s land and natural resources. More information on LEPs can be found at www.beeflambnz.com/compliance/environment/environment-plans.
Finally, earlier this month I went along to a very thought-provoking talk held in Balclutha on regenerative agriculture. Some of the regenerative farming principles include looking after the soil, always having living plants in the ground, and diversity of plant species.
It was interesting to hear some of these farmers refer to themselves as energy farmers. I’m looking forward to learning more about regenerative farming in Otago going forward.
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The whitebaiting season is upon us already! How time flies when you’re having fun. There has been plenty in the news over the last few days about protection of whitebait from fishers, but no so much about protection of their habitat.
Whitebait breed in very distinct spots - sometimes called ‘the love zone’. The love zone has to have a specific combination of conditions for whitebait to breed successfully, including clean water with limited sediments, the right tide levels, the right time of year, the right vegetation, the right bank access, and the right mix of salt and freshwater.
In general, Otago landowners do a pretty good job of looking after the love zones in all our major rivers in Otago – keep up the good work!
This will be my last On-Stream contribution as I am leaving ORC, with my last day being Tuesday 4 September. I'd like to express my thanks to everyone in Otago who has helped make my time in the role enjoyable and rewarding, and I hope I’ve managed to help some of you along the way. I’m leaving knowing that most people just want to do the right thing, and by crikey we live in a beautiful part of the world!
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It’s the season of Beef + Lamb LEP workshops and I have attended two this month in Heriot and Middlemarch. Attendees never fail to come up with new questions on the ORC Water Plan or general ORC business.
I want to acknowledge an ORC superstar as he moves on to his next challenge. I’ve personally benefited from being in a team with James, and I will miss his knowledge of all things ORC, the North Otago community and his input as an environment and community advocate.
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Ballance Farm Environment Awards
Entries are now open for the Ballance Farm Environment Awards for 2019. Entering the awards is free and only takes two minutes at www.bfea.org.nz. This is a good way to help tell the world about the great work you’re doing on the farm. |
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ECO Fund
The ECO Fund is now live! You can check out our liaison specialist Chantal Whitby in our promo video, and more information on the fund on our website at www.orc.govt.nz/ecofund. The first funding round is from 1 - 20 September.
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Whitebait
Whitebait season kicked off on 15 August. If you are planning on fishing for this delicacy make sure you are familiar with both ORC's and DOC's regulations. For more information see our website |
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What's coming up?
For a full list of events click here.
August
24 August - Love Your Leith: Round Two consultation closes
TBC - consultation on preferred projects for Tomahawk Lagoon and Lake Tuakitoto (keep an eye on our website for details)
September
1 September - ECO Fund applications open
3 September - Otago Navigation Safety Bylaw Draft 2018 consultation closes
20 September - ECO Fund applications close
TBC
Third workshop for Tomahawk Lagoon restoration
Third workshop for Lake Tuakitoto restoration
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| The winter issue of ORC's newsletter 'Waterlines' is out now. You can read it here. |
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| If you know someone who should subscribe to On-Stream, forward this email to them and suggest they email us at water@orc.govt.nz to subscribe. |
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| Make sure you like the Otago Regional Council Facebook page - click the Facebook link below. |
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