Rule 42 Urgent works

The repair of any bank protection works and the recontouring of the bed of any river or stream including any associated disturbance of the bed or any deposition on the bed by a local authority or network utility operator, which:

(1) is necessary to protect existing permanent dwellings, existing network utility structures, or existing flood mitigation structures from an imminent threat of erosion; and

(2) is undertaken and completed within 10 working days of a natural hazard event which results in erosion causing an imminent threat to any existing permanent dwelling, existing network utility structure, or existing flood mitigation structure;

is a permitted activity provided it complies with the conditions specified below.

Conditions

(1) The river or lake bed is not disturbed any more than is necessary to carry out the works.

(2) The works are restricted to the minimum area necessary to protect the structure.

(3) Public access is not restricted to an extent, or for a period, greater than that necessary to complete the works.

(4) No contaminants (including but not limited to oil, petrol, diesel, paint, or solvent) shall be released to water from equipment being used for the operation, and no refuelling of equipment shall take place on any area of river or lake bed.

(5) All reasonable steps shall be taken to minimise the release of sediment to water during the activity.

(6) Any repairs to bank protection works use similar material to the work being protected, excluding vehicle bodies or demolition material.

(7) Either the Manager, Consents Management, Wellington, or the Manager, Planning and Resources, Wairarapa, is notified prior to the work being undertaken.

Note: An imminent threat is judged to exist when existing permanent dwellings, existing network utility structures, or existing flood mitigation measures are likely to be adversely affected within a period of 10 working days.