Land Use & Freshwater Management

Regional Policy Statement Change 5 Land Use & Freshwater Management

• Status: Operative, 24 August 2019
  
• Publicly Notified: 2 October 2012
• Decisions Issued: 5 June 2013

Freshwater is one of our region’s most precious natural resources and much of the Regional Council’s work revolves around it. Central government has set a new direction for improving water quality and protecting life in our rivers, lakes, streams and aquifers. It is our job to make it happen, so the Regional Council has proposed amendments to the Regional Policy Statement. 29 submissions were received on Change 5 and nine further submissions were lodged in support or opposition to those origional 29 submissions. Decisions have been made on those submissions. 4 Appeals were lodged with the Environment Court.

Proposal overview:

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has completed amendments that modify existing objectives and policies in the Regional Resource Management Plan (RRMP).  Primarily,the amendments insert new policies and amends existing policies in the Regional Policy Statement relating to freshwater resources. It does not assume a ‘blank canvas’ exists for making these policies.

Change 5 provides enhanced guidance and direction to decision-makers about how future management decisions will be made in an integrated manner for the sustainable management of the region’s land and fresh water resources. To do this, Change 5:

• inserts clearer guidance and direction regarding how conflicting values and uses of fresh water resources will be managed
• states an overall objective for how land use and water will be managed in an integrated and sustainable manner
• outlines what catchment-based regional plan changes will need to consider
• in relation to the Heretaunga / Ahuriri, Mohaka and Tukituki catchment areas, identifies primary values and uses that are to be given more emphasis than secondary values and uses
• outlines the broad approach to be taken in relating to managing leaching of nitrogen, faecal coliform bacteria and phosphorus from the use of production land
• indicates a range of non-regulatory methods that would be used to achieve improved management of land use and fresh water in Hawke's Bay
• identifies policy regarding land-based disposal of wastewater, solid waste and other waste products

Relevant Documents

Change 5 (operative version)

2011 Regional Water Symposium Event Report
Change 5 Decisions Document
Change 5 (as amended by council decisions)
Proposed RPS Change 5 (as at public notification)
s32 Evaluation Summary Report
Regional Council's NPS for Freshwater Management Progressive Implementation Programme​​​
Submssion Index
Submissions 1-10
Submissions 11-20
Submissions 21-29
All Submissions 1-29
Summary of Submissions
All Further Submissions Lodged
s42A hearing report and staff recommendations
1. Appeal - Federated Farmers of NZ
2. Appeal - HB Fish & Game Council
3. Appeal - Horticulture NZ
4. Appeal - Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc.

Relevant Links

National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management

Regional Resource Management Plan