Natural resources and environment

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Natural resources and environment

Water

Otago Plan Change 7

Otago PC7 is an interim plan change to roll over expiring water consents and deemed permits. The short-term plan change is required to give Otago Regional Council the time to undertake scientific research and work with iwi and the community on the vision, values and freshwater outcomes for the Otago catchments, required by the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPSFM). Horticulture New Zealand appeared at the Environment Court Hearing in Cromwell in April. HortNZ presented legal, planning and economics expert evidence and were supported by two growers. The growers provided detailed evidence on their growing systems, water use and the history and application of the deemed water permits, some of which date back to the gold mining era, and are due to expire this year. HortNZ understands the transitional nature of the plan. We are weary of the Council continuing to over-allocate water in catchments, where users will be faced with claw-backs in the future. With this in mind, for most people a short-term rollover will be acceptable, on the understanding that a robust and comprehensive Freshwater Plan is developed by 2024. In our view, it is critical that a pathway exists within PC7 for growers to seek longer consents or larger irrigated areas, provided they can demonstrate they can use water in a manner that has minor environmental effects and aligns with achieving the objective of PC7, which is to transition towards the long-term sustainable management of water resources.

Horizons Plan Change 2 Decision

Horizons Regional Council have adopted the PC2 decision. HortNZ presented legal, planning, economic and water quality evidence at the hearing, and a number of growers explained their operations. Through our submission and evidence, we were able to explain the importance of crop rotation, the importance of vegetables grown in the Horizons region within New Zealand’s food system, and the commitment most growers have made to implementing freshwater farm plans. The provisions will be tough for many growers, but the plan change is a significant improvement on the One Plan and the notified PC2. The decision version of PC2 includes a definition of crop rotation, updates the controlled activity leaching maximums, and provides a consenting pathway for existing growers who cannot meet the controlled activity leaching maximums. The opportunity to expand vegetable growing is limited to those rotations that can meet the updated leaching maximums. The provisions for existing growers within target catchments will require significant reductions in leaching for some growers. Existing growers who cannot achieve the reductions have a discretionary consenting pathway where an argument about domestic food supply can be made. Consent duration is a matter that the Council will consider on all consent applications. PC2 is designed to be interim. Horizons need to develop another plan change before 2024. PC2 may be appealed to the Environment Court.

Climate Change

He Waka Eke Noa

He Waka Eke Noa is a partnership between iwi, government and the primary sector to manage agricultural emissions. Agricultural greenhouse gas emissions include emissions from animals and those from fertiliser.

He Waka Eke Noa milestones require that all farms larger than 80ha know the amount of agricultural greenhouse emissions they produce by the end of 2022, and all farms larger than 80ha have a plan to manage and measure emissions by the end of 2025.

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