Welcome

Agenda Welcome Presentation Questions and Answers Meeting close Proposed National Policy Statement - Highly Productive Land Action for healthy waterways Questions and Answers Meeting close This to be on the screen when people arrive.

Protecting our land and water for the future

Proposed National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land Joint consultation with Ministry for Primary Industries

The issues Lack of clarity under the Resource Management Act (RMA) 1990-2008: 29 percent of new urban areas on our most highly productive land 2011: 10 percent of our most highly productive land fragmented for rural- lifestyle development Once gone, it is lost forever

The proposed solutions Three proposed objectives to improve management, councils will: Recognise the values and benefits of highly productive land Maintain its availability for future generations Protect it from inappropriate subdivision, use and development

Action for healthy waterways Material improvement in five years Healthier waterways in a generation

Te Mana o te Wai Guiding principle for water management Put the water first – protect and sustainably manage the health of the water as the first priority Holistic and integrated approach to water management – ki uta ki tai Delivered through: Water Services Act - arising from the Three Waters review Updated Drinking Water NES* Proposed new Wastewater NES* New NPS Freshwater* Proposed NES Freshwater* Resource Management Amendment Bill (this year) Broader resource management reform Further work on institutional/oversight arrangements including regulator Further work on allocating allowances to discharge nutrients. *Part of water consultation

What does this mean for urban areas? Safer drinking water Proposed rules to put more protection around sources of drinking water Better management of stormwater and wastewater New standards for discharges from wastewater treatment plants in addition to having to meet requirements under NPS-FM Stormwater and wastewater risk management plans to understand and manage environmental risks Better monitoring and reporting Protecting wetlands and streams from urban development Protect indigenous species and improve fish passage in urban streams Reducing sediment loss from earthworks

What does this mean for farmers/growers in the short term? Proposals that apply to all farmers and growers Farm plan to understand and manage environmental risks Limits on intensification of land use (for example converting to dairy) Exclude stock from waterways above a metre wide Plan to exclude stock from smaller waterways Proposals that apply to specific locations and activities Restrictions on draining wetlands and infilling streams Meet minimum standards for winter grazing Get a resource consent for feedlots, stock holding areas Report large water usage (eg irrigation) using telemetry In high nitrate/nitrogen catchments, with no existing rules, reduce excessive nitrogen losses Will work though one by one – see also fact sheets – to quote Minister O’Connor, mostly this is about making best practice, normal practice. There are some catchments, especially in Canterbury and Southland, where over decades will have to go beyond best practice, to changing practice to reduce excessive nitrogen losses. Canterbury already has a plan for this (add) One of the proposals that we are consulting on says that in about a dozen catchments, including a number in Southland, because the council doesn’t have a plan yet, there is a need to do something quickly to get nitrogen losses on to a downward path.

Intensification Consent will be required for: increases in the area of land in irrigated pastoral, arable or horticultural production above 10 hectares changes in land use above 10 hectares from: arable, deer, sheep or beef to dairy-support arable, deer, dairy-support, sheep, or beef to dairy woody vegetation or forestry to any pastoral use increases in forage cropping. Must show there will be no increase in contamination Interim measure until councils have plans in place Intended to stop things getting worse Feedback welcome

Winter grazing on forage crops Options for new standards National standard with options for range Industry- set standards Factor Range from Up to Industry standard Slope threshold (land with slope below …) 10 degrees 15 degrees 20 degrees Pugging 10 cm 20 cm fetlock Setback from waterway 5 m 20 m Feedback welcome

Stock exclusion – cattle, deer and pigs Proposed standard for wetlands, lakes and rivers more than a metre wide Proposed setback of 5 metres Low-slope land (mapped online) rolled out over three years Hill country (outside low slope) -requirements would apply to all areas capable of carrying stock numbers similar to low-slope land Streams under a metre wide and drains Plan for how you will exclude stock in your farm plan Plan will be audited, and council can take enforcement action Feedback welcome

Wetlands and streams No development of remaining wetlands Does not include wet pasture or paddocks where water temporarily ponds after rain Protection of streams No piping or infilling Mainly relates to urban development Provision for stream crossings (eg stock crossing) Feedback welcome

What does this mean over a generation? Proposed new bottom lines Regional councils will plan how to meet these and over what time period Opportunity to be involved in plan development Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) In many areas, nutrient reduction already needed over time to meet current NPS-FM attributes New option would require significant reductions, especially in Canterbury and Southland Feedback welcome

What does this mean - sediment Will mean more planting on erosion prone land Impact on urban development and infrastructure earthworks Modelling indicates sediment bottom line can mostly be achieved through good practice Feedback welcome

Support for change Practical advice, information, tools and support Extension services Targeted support for Maori landowners and agribusinesses Investment in decision support tools Overseer to be improved Certification scheme for farm planners To support farm planning process Feedback welcome

Advisory groups Kāhui Wai Māori Freshwater leaders group Maori leaders, farmers, scientists, resource management law experts Freshwater leaders group Farmers and growers, agribusiness leaders, scientists., resource management experts Science and Technical Advisory Group 16 leading freshwater scientists Regional Sector Water Subgroup Council leaders and senior staff with relevant expertise

Questions

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