The future of freshwater in Bay of Plenty

Change is coming for landowners, as regional councils across the country work to set new objectives, policies and rules to protect the health of freshwater.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council policy and planning manager Julie Bevan explains what this means for the BOP region.

New policy

Central government has released a new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, and regional councils must update our regional policies and rules to give e ect to this.

Several national rules have already been introduced in September 2020 – for example recording and reporting on synthetic nitrogen use, a cap on intensive winter grazing and protection of wetland vegetation –and more will be phased in over time. Some changes we are exploring include changes to water take limits, restrictions on discharges into water and onto land, the retirement of land and land use practice requirements, and structures and works within rivers, lakes and wetlands.

During the next few months, our team is holding events across the region to update you on what the key freshwater management issues are for the region and for your FMU, and the draft options we are thinking about to manage them.

If you are a farmer, grower or lifestyle block owner, these changes might a ect you in more ways than one. Now is the time to have your say on the draft changes before they are decided on.

We acknowledge there is already a lot of change afoot due to new national regulations, and this is yet more, so we encourage your involvement and welcome you to talk to our team at events. Together, let’s work through and identify pragmatic solutions for long-term economic and environmental sustainability.

Feedback calls

We strongly encourage you to come to community events, running until September, and give us feedback while options are still draft.

A list of upcoming drop-in sessions are below:

• Tarawera: Tuesday 30 May, 2-7pm, Firmin Lodge, Waterhouse Street, Kawerau

Specialising

• Tauranga Moana: Friday 9 June, 12-1.30pm (Online)

• Motiti: Monday 19 June, all day, location TBC

• Rotorua: Friday 23 June, 12-1.30pm (Online)

Waihī: Saturday 24 June, 10am-12pm, location TBC

• Kaituna: ursday 29 June, 2-7pm, Whakaue Marae, 721 Maketū Road, Maketū You can access a full list at boprc.govt.nz/ freshwater and scroll to the bottom of the page. You can also contact our Freshwater Project Team directly on freshwater@boprc.govt.nz in Removal / chipping of whole trees e rules will vary between di erent parts of the region (these are referred to as Freshwater Management Units or FMUs), depending on what the key concerns impacting freshwater are in those areas.

• Whakatāne: Wednesday 31 May, 2-7pm, Eastbay REAP, Pyne Street, Whakatāne

• Rangitāiki: Friday 2 June, 2-7pm, Eastbay REAP, Pyne Street, Whakatāne

On site chipping for stand off pads

Wood chip for sale

Orchard shelter removal

Stump removal

Woodlot marketing of all tree species

Specialising in

• Removal / chipping of whole trees

• On site chipping for stand off pads

• Wood chip for sale

• Orchard shelter removal

• Stump removal

• Woodlot marketing of all tree species