YOUR LEVY AT WORK
YOUR LEVY AT WORK INDUSTRY WIDE ISSUES FOR INDUSTRY GOOD
Natural resources and environment By Michelle Sands : HortNZ environment manager
Northland Agrichemical Decision The Environment Court has provided a final decision on the agrichemical rules in the Northland region in the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland. In the Proposed Plan the case related to the provision, which Horticulture New Zealand appealed, did not allow application of agrichemicals (via ground-based or aerial application methods) when a spray-sensitive area was within 100m unless the wind direction was away from that area. The decision of the Court, in summary: • More detail about the requirement for a risk assessment. • Included provisions that limit spraying in high wind (> 6m/s) and low wind inversion conditions. • Inserts a more nuanced, risk-based framework – depending on wind speed, direction, effective shelter – in relation to spray-sensitive areas and requiring buffer distances (aligning with NZS 8409 e.g. up to 30m for ground-based methods) in some circumstances. HortNZ will be communicating on the new requirements with growers. Outstanding Water Bodies mediation Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Plan Change 7: Outstanding Water Bodies, proposes to change the Regional Resource
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The ORCHARDIST : NOVEMBER 2021
Management Plan (RRMP) to include a list of the region’s outstanding water bodies, together with a framework which prescribes a high level of protection for these water bodies in future plan making. The water bodies identified in the Proposed Plan Change 7 are the ‘best of the best’ within the region, featuring an exceptional cultural, spiritual, recreational, natural character, landscape, geological, or ecological value which is remarkable in Hawke’s Bay.
The water bodies identified in the Proposed Plan Change 7 are the ‘best of the best’ within the region The Proposed Plan Change 7 aims to protect these outstanding features, in their current state, now and for future generations. The decision on the Plan Change was appealed, and HortNZ has joined the appeal as a 274 party and will participate in mediation. Appellants have sought that the Heretaunga and Ruataniwha Aquifers be recognised as outstanding. HortNZ supports the decision which found these water bodies did not meet the criteria.
