Recent Plan changes

Recent changes to Regional Plans

Two changes described below will be made to the Regional Plan for Discharges to Land and, the Regional Freshwater Plan pursuant to the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), and take effect from 1 August 2014, the date that the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 takes effect.

1   Plan Change 3 to the Regional Plan for Discharges to Land

The Regional Plan for Discharges to Land has been amended in accordance with section 55 of the RMA to give effect to policy A4 of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. Plan Change 3 amended the Regional Plan for Discharges to Land in July 2014. The following new policy was inserted.

1.1 Policy 4.2.24A

1. When considering any application for a discharge the consent authority must have regard to the following matters:

a) the extent to which the discharge would avoid contamination that will have an adverse effect on the life-supporting capacity of fresh water including on any ecosystem associated with fresh water and

b) the extent to which it is feasible and dependable that any more than minor adverse effect on fresh water, and on any ecosystem associated with fresh water, resulting from the discharge would be avoided.

2. When considering any application for a discharge the consent authority must have regard to the following matters:

a) the extent to which the discharge would avoid contamination that will have an adverse effect on the health of people and communities as affected by their secondary contact with fresh water; and

b) the extent to which it is feasible and dependable that any more than minor adverse effect on the health of people and communities as affected by their secondary contact with fresh water resulting from the discharge would be avoided.

3. This policy applies to the following discharges (including a diffuse discharge by any person or animal):

a) a new discharge or

b) a change or increase in any discharge – of any contaminant into fresh water, or onto or into land in circumstances that may result in that contaminant (or, as a result of any natural process from the discharge of that contaminant, any other contaminant) entering fresh water.

4. Paragraph 1 of this policy does not apply to any application for consent first lodged before the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2011 took effect on 1 July 2011.

5. Paragraph 2 of this policy does not apply to any application for consent first lodged before the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 takes effect.

2   Plan Change 6 to the Regional Freshwater Plan

The Regional Freshwater Plan has been amended in accordance with section 55 of the RMA to give effect to policies A4 and B7 of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. Plan Change 6 amended the Regional Freshwater Plan in July 2014. The following new policies were inserted.

2.1 Policy 5.2.10A

1. When considering any application for a discharge the consent authority must have regard to the following matters:

a) the extent to which the discharge would avoid contamination that will have an adverse effect on the life-supporting capacity of fresh water including on any ecosystem associated with fresh water and

b) the extent to which it is feasible and dependable that any more than minor adverse effect on fresh water, and on any ecosystem associated with fresh water, resulting from the discharge would be avoided.

2. When considering any application for a discharge the consent authority must have regard to the following matters:

a) the extent to which the discharge would avoid contamination that will have an adverse effect on the health of people and communities as affected by their secondary contact with fresh water; and

b) the extent to which it is feasible and dependable that any more than minor adverse effect on the health of people and communities as affected by their secondary contact with fresh water resulting from the discharge would be avoided.

3. This policy applies to the following discharges (including a diffuse discharge by any person or animal):

a) a new discharge or

b) a change or increase in any discharge – of any contaminant into fresh water, or onto or into land in circumstances that may result in that contaminant (or, as a result of any natural process from the discharge of that contaminant, any other contaminant) entering fresh water.

4. Paragraph 1 of this policy does not apply to any application for consent first lodged before the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2011 took effect on 1 July 2011.

5. Paragraph 2 of this policy does not apply to any application for consent first lodged before the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 takes effect.