Contents Part A: Introduction and Definitions Schedule 9: Aquifers in the Gisborne Region 161 Section 1: Introduction and How the Plan Works 3 Schedule 10: Culvert Construction Guidelines for Council Administered Drainage Areas 162 Section 2: Definitions 5 Schedule 11: Requirements of Farm Environment Plans 164 Part B: Regional Policy Statement for Freshwater Schedule 12: Bore Construction Requirements 166 Section 3: Regional Policy Statement For Freshwater 31 Schedule 13: Irrigation Management Plan Requirements 174 Part C: Regional Freshwater Plan Schedule 14: Clearances, Setbacks and Maximum Slope Gradients for Installation Section 4: Water Quantity and Allocation 42 of Disposal Systems 175 Section 5: Water Quality and Discharges to Water and Land 48 Schedule 15: Wastewater Flow Allowances 177 Section 6: Activities in the Beds of Rivers and Lakes 83 Schedule 16: Unreticulated Wasterwater Treatment, Storage and Disposal Systems 181 Section 7: Riparian Margins, Wetlands 100 Schedule 17: Wetland Management Plans 182 Part D: Regional Schedules Schedule 18: Requirements for AEE for Emergency Wastewater Overflows 183 Schedule 1: Aquatic Ecosystem Waterbodies 109 Schedule 19: Guidance for Resource Consent Applications 185 1 Schedule 2: Migrating and Spawning Habitats of Native Fish 124 Part E: Catchment Plans Proposed Schedule 3: Regionally Significant Wetlands 126 General Catchment Plans 190 Schedule 4: Outstanding Waterbodies 128 Waipaoa Catchment Plan 192 Gisborne Schedule 5: Significant Recreation Areas 130 Appendix - Maps for the Regional Freshwater Plan Schedule 6: Watercourses in Land Drainage Areas with Ecological Values 133 Regional Appendix - Maps for the Regional Freshwater Plan 218 Schedule 7: Protected Watercourses 134 Freshwater Schedule 8: Marine Areas of Coastal Significance as Defined in the Coastal Environment Plan 160 Plan Part A: Introduction and Definitions 2 Section 1: Introduction and How the Plan Works 1.0 Introduction and How the Plan Works Part A is comprised of the introduction, how the plan works and definitions. Have Your Say Part B is the Regional Policy Statement for Freshwater. It includes the Regional Policy Statement Objectives, which are also the Objectives for the Regional Plan. It also Before commenting on the Proposed Fresh Water Plan please complete this section includes strategic policies grouped around the themes of working together, by clicking Make Submission. catchment planning, integrated management and research and monitoring. Part C is the Regional Freshwater Plan which contains the policies, rules, and methods Privacy information: Please note that all submissions will be made publicly available used to manage activities. This is the main operational part of the plan that regulates at Council offices and the HB Williams Memorial Library. A summary of submissions activities. including the name and contact details of the submitter may also be made publicly available including posting on the Council website. Personal information Part D is the Regional Freshwater Plan Schedules which support the interpretation will also be used for administration relating to the subject matter of the submissions, of the policies and the rules. including notifying submitters of hearings and decisions. All information will be held by Gisborne District Council with submitters having the right to access and Part E is the Catchment Plans, containing the objectives, limits and targets for correct personal information. freshwater quality and quantity. The first Catchment Plan is the Waipaoa Catchment Plan. 1.1 Introduction The maps for the Regional Plan are contained in the Appendix. We all need plenty of clean freshwater, now and in the future. Our surface water and groundwater resources underpin food production that sustains us and contributes to the region’s economy. Our waterways and their margins are home to a wide range of plants and animals. For tangata whenua, awa are viewed as taonga and the preservation of the mauri and wairua of a waterbody is integral in enabling the expression of kaitiakitanga obligations. The Council has prepared this Freshwater Plan to meet the objectives for managing water quality and quantity for the region. The Plan also meets the requirements of 3 the Resource Management Act (1991) (RMA) and the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (2014). The Plan identifies the policies and methods needed to achieve the objectives and provides a framework for the processing of Proposed resource consent applications. Managing freshwater resources is complex and many issues are interconnected. The current environment has been modified by both past and current activities, Gisborne many of which cannot be easily changed without significant costs to people and communities. There is no ‘quick fix’ to solve existing issues and a range of responses are required. The Plan provides a long term approach to managing these issues. Regional 1.2 How the Plan Works The Freshwater Plan contains the Regional Policy Statement and the Regional Plan provisions for freshwater. This reflects Councils status as a Unitary Authority. Freshwater The structure of the Plan is broken down into five parts; Parts A - E. Gisborne Freshwater Plan Plan Section 1: Introduction and How the Plan Works 1.2.1 Guide to Rules 1.2.3 Rule Tables The rules in the Plan implement the objectives and policies. The rules are legally Within each of the rule tables there are four columns headed as follows: binding and determine whether a person needs to apply for a resource consent, or whether the activity can be undertaken without a resource consent – as a 1. Rule Contains the rule number. permitted activity. 2. Activity Describes the activity. For the activity to be considered under this rule There is a strong relationship between the classification an activity is given in a rule it must be consistent with the description contained in this column, and meet and the environmental outcomes sought to be achieved by the policies and any criteria contained in the conditions/standards/terms column. objectives. The RMA provides for the following classifications: 3. Classification Contains the classification of the activity under section 77A of Permitted Activities - do not require a resource consent but may have standards the RMA, i.e. permitted, controlled, restricted discretionary, discretionary, that need to be met. non-complying or prohibited. Controlled Activities - require a resource consent but must be granted. An 4. Permitted Activity Standards/Matters for Control/Discretion. This column assessment of identified matters will be required and resource consent contains: conditions imposed. Permitted Activity Standards. These are ongoing requirements that must Restricted Discretionary and Discretionary Activities may or may not be be met for an activity to be a Permitted Activity Failure to comply with appropriate in any given circumstance, depending on the effects of the the conditions mean that the activity will require a resource consent. activity. Restricted discretionary means that the consent assessment is restricted to certain matters. Matters for Control/Discretion. These are relevant for Controlled Activities and Restricted Discretionary Activities. It is a list of things that the Council Non-complying Activities are generally inappropriate or unanticipated, and can consider when assessing a resource consent for that activity. any application will need to demonstrate that they are consistent with the objectives and policies of the Plan or that the effects of an activity are no more than minor. 4 1.3 Development and Review of Catchment Plans Prohibited Activities are not appropriate in any circumstance, and no resource Catchment plans provide a framework for identifying freshwater values and consent application may be made for a prohibited activity. establishing specific objectives, limits and targets that ensure those values are provided for. Policies and methods (regulatory and non-regulatory) may also be 1.2.2 General Rules included to help give effect to the regional provisions and respond to catchment-specific issues. Most of the rules are arranged in tables. However, there are also General Rules that Freshwater are listed in front of the Rule Tables. General Rules are of two types: Where a catchment plan contains specific policies and rules, these will take precedence over the general regional policies and rules. Catchment plans will be 1. Rules that apply to all Permitted Activities within a section and are ongoing developed progressively across the region to give effect to the National Policy requirements that must be met for the activity to be permitted. Statement for Freshwater Management 2014. The Waipaoa Catchment Plan is the Regional first. 2. Non-notification clauses. These state whether there are activities where a consent application could be considered without notification, and/or without the need to obtain the written approval of affected persons. Gisborne Proposed Plan Section 2: Definitions 2.0 Definitions These definitions are both Regional Policy Statement and Regional Plan definitions. The definitions in italics below are from the legislation, and those underlined are from the Combined Plan and are reproduced here for information purposes. Word Definition Act The Resource Management Act (RMA) Acute toxicity Adverse effects caused by a toxic agent occurring within a short time following exposure to that agent. Advanced on-site wastewater-treatment In relation to Section 5.6 ( Page 70) means