September 22, 2016

Decisions on South Coastal Canterbury plan change

Environment Canterbury announced today that it had accepted the recommendations of Independent Hearing Commissioners on proposed Plan Change 3 to the Canterbury Land & Water Regional Plan, covering the South Coastal Canterbury area.

The South Coastal Canterbury Plan Change addresses water quality and water quantity in the catchment.

Environment Canterbury Commissioner Peter Skelton said the main focus of the Plan Change is on nutrient management. For this purpose, the South Coastal Canterbury area is divided into three management areas.

“The Plan Change sets limits for improving water quality, particularly in Wainono Lagoon, while also providing opportunities for economic development,” Professor Skelton said. “A new schedule sets out good farm practices relating to nutrient management, irrigation management, grazing of intensively farmed stock, cultivation and collected animal effluent.

“I would like to pay tribute to the role of the Lower Waitaki - South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee in putting in place policies and rules to help achieve community goals for freshwater management in the South Coastal Canterbury area,” Professor Skelton said. Plan Change 3 represents the regulatory part of the Zone Committee’s programme.

The Plan Change will be subject to an appeal period of 15 working days from the date of notification – 1 October 2016. Appeals (on points of law only) can be filed in the High Court. Once any appeals have been resolved the Plan Change in its final form will be made operative.

For more information on Plan Change 3, go to www.ecan.govt.nz/lwrp-v3

Background – Land & Water Regional Plan

The Land & Water Regional Plan became partly operative on 1 September 2015. It sets the framework to implement community aspirations for water through the Canterbury Water Management Strategy, a community led, collaborative approach to improve water outcomes throughout the region.

The Land & Water Regional Plan operates at two levels – a region-wide section and 10 sub- regional sections. The policies and rules in the sub-regional sections can apply instead of, or in addition to, policies and rules in the region-wide section. The sub-regional sections implement the region-wide objectives in the plan in the most appropriate way for the catchment.

For more information on the Land & Water Regional Plan, go to www.ecan.govt.nz/lwrp

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