PO Box 94, Ashburton n40 P (03) 307 7700

lesley Woudberg CWMS Facilitator P 0 Box 345 Christchurch 8140 Environment Canterbury Ashburton RegionaL Council DISTR I CT COUNCIL

ASH BURTON WATER MANAGEMENT ZONE COMMITTEE AGENDA

A Meeting of the Ash burton Water Management Zone Committee will be held as follows:

DATE: Tuesday 28 April2015

TIME: 1:00pm

VENUE: Council Chamber 5 Baring Square West Ash burton

MEETING CALLED BY: A Dalziel, Chief Executive, Ash burton District Council B Bayfield, Chief Executive, Environment Canterbury

ATTENDEES: Mrs Donna Field (Chair) Mr Chris Allen Mr Ben Curry Mr Craig Fowles Mr Gordon Guthrie Mrs Sheryl Stivens Mrs Jackie Wright Mr Karl Russell (Te Runanga o Arowhenua) Mr Arapata Reuben (Te Ngai Tuahuriri Runanga) Cr Stuart Wilson (Ash burton District Council) Commissioner David Caygill (Environment Canterbury)

canterbury Water Zone Facilitator Committee Advisor Tangata Whenua Facilitator Lesley Woudberg Jo Naylor PeterTe Rangihiroa Ramsden Tel: 027 706 4273 Tel: 307 7724 Tel: 027 553 3140 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Environment Canterbury Ash burton District Council Environment Canterbury

Canterbury Water 4 Register of Interests

Representative's Name and lnteres ~ • Farm owner of sheep, beef, lambs ,crop Chris Allen • Water resource consents to take waterfrom tributary of Ashburton River and shallow wells • National board member Federated Farmers of New Zealand • Member of Ashburton River Liaison Group • Deputy Chair- Environment Canterbury Commissioners David Caygill • Director: Whai Rawa Funds Ltd (Ngai Tahu's savings scheme) • Chief Executive Officer- Rangitata Diversion Race Management Limited Ben Curry • Chair- Whitcombe Landcare Group Donna Field • Director-Cleardale Station Ltd • Member of Ashburton Biodiversity Working Group Craig Fowles • Technical Manager at ANZCO Foods Canterbury Ltd • Director of freshwater consu ltancy Biosortid Ltd • CEO Electricity Ash burton Limited (tla EA Networks) Gordon Guthrie • Director- Barrhill Chertsey Irrigation (incl. Water Utilities Limited) • Farming partnership- Winch more (Ashburton North branch) • Trustee- Tuahiwi Marae Arapata Reuben • Trustee- Tuhono Trust • Trustee- Matapopore Charitable Trust • Trustee- Mana Waitaha Charitable Trust • Member- National Kiwi Recovery Group • ROnanga Rep and Chair- Christchurch- West Melton Water Zone Committee • · Eco Efficiency Coordinator- Mastaguard Education Services I Envirowaste Sheryl Stivens • Board member- New Zealand Waste Advisory Board • Advisory member- NZ Glass Packaging Forum • Organic Farmer- Hinds Plains Area ("Free Range Farm" Willowby) • Director of Environmental Consultancy (Sheryl Stivens and Associates Ltd) • Owner operator- Health and Wellness Business • Secretary- Organic NZ I Soil and Health Mid Canterbury • Ash burton District Councillor and Chair of Service Delivery Committee Stuart Wilson • A son who is a Director of Mayfield Hinds Irrigation Co and RDR • Another son who is a Director ofValetta Irrigation Co

• Employed by Canterbury District Health Board Jackie Wright • Married to Ash burton District Councillor, Russell Ellis • Committee member South Rakaia Bach Owner's Association • Shallow Bore user • Dry land owner breeding Dexter cattle (Wakanui area, low acreage)

1 CWMSAshburton Zone Committee 28April2015 Agenda 2 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28 April2015 Agenda 5 Confirmation of Minutes (Unconfirmed Minutes)

Minutes of a meeting of the Ashburton Water Management Zone Committee held in the Council Chamber, 5

Baring Square West, Ash burton on Tuesday 24 March 2015, commencing at 11.23am. Present Donna Field (Chair), Chris Allen, Ben Curry, Craig Fowles, Arapata Reuben, Sheryl Stivens and Stuart Wilson. In attendance Environment Canterbury: Lesley Woudberg (Facilitator), Don Rule, Tania Harris, Christina Rob b. Ash burton District Council: Business Support Officer (minutes).

Approximately 14 members of the public attended the meeting. 1 Welcome and Karakia Mr Arapata Reuben opened the meeting with a karakia.

2 Apologies David Caygill, Gordon Guthrie, Karl Russell, Jackie Wright. Sustained

3 Extraordinary Business Nil.

4 Registeroflnterests Circulated in agenda and updated.

5 Confirmation of Minutes Amendment- Item 7 Correspondence: "The committee was disappointed that the correspondence from Mr Mackenzie personally targeted the Chair for doing herjob. It was considered that the tone of this correspondence was inappropriate and should not be condoned'~

That the minutes of the Ashburton Water Management Zone Committee meeting held on Tuesday 24 February 2015, subject to amendment, be confirmed. Fowles/Stivens . Carried

The Chair with the agreement of the committee proposed that the deputation be taken after Item 8.

6 Deputations ( 12.12pm) Mr Matt Bubb (Aqualinc) and Mr Jock Ross attended the meeting to discuss a proposal to capture and store rainfall run-off on Mr Ross's Lagmhor property following heavy rainfall/ storm events. This water would then be used to irrigate an area of land up to approx. 60 ha. The current wording of the pLWRP (Section 13) prevents this activity, despite the fact that storing water during flood type events on a small scale would appear to Mr Ross, to be a sensible use of the resource. Mr Ross is seeking the support from the Ash burton Zone Committee for the proposal. Mr Ross advised that he has approximately 60 hectares of land that goes from too wet to too dry. When very wet, he has to drain water from the farm, diverting it into Lagmhor Creek, and believes it would be beneficial to store this flood water for use during the dry season. Mr Bubb advised that the farm is located within the Ashburton River catchment and the proposal is to capture stormwater from the property before it reaches Lagmhor Creek and the Ashburton River. Lagmhor Creek is a flood risk and this proposal would also help to mitigate this risk in high flow times.

3 CWMSAshburton Zone Committee 28 April2015 Agenda There is some degree of urgency with this proposal as the proposed Land and Water Regional Plan is about to become operative. Once operative, an application of this type would become a prohibited activity. Gordon Guthrie attended the meeting at 12:28pm.

Following lengthy discussion the Chair advised that the Zone Committee was unable to make a consensus decision of support for this proposal at this time. Several members expressed the need for further information. It was noted that Mr Ross was able to submit a consent application to Environment Canterbury at any time, with or without the support of the Zone Committee. The consenting process would ensure the application was assessed thoroughly for effects. 7 Correspondence (11:26am)

The Chair tabled a letter from Dame Margaret Bazley, Chairperson of Environment Canterbury, Dame Margaret thanked members ofthe Hinds Drains Working Party and the Ash burton Zone Committee for the work undertaken to advance the Canterbury Water Management Strategy in the Hinds drains area.

The Chair also tabled correspondence from the Chair of the Ash burton Biodiversity Group (Cr Alan Totty) with regard to sediment levels in the Ash burton Lakes which are impacting the Maori Lakes and south branch of the Ashburton River. Cr Totty invited the Zone Committee to meet with the Ashburton Biodiversity Group to discuss the issues.

A requirement of the Zone Committee is to liaise with the Ash burton Biodiversity Group. The Chai r will contact Cr Totty to arrange a workshop for discussion.

That the correspondence be received. Curry/Reuben Carried

8 DairyNZ Update

Mr James Ryan and Shirley Hayward (DairyNZ) and Michael Hyde (Fonterra) attended the meeting to present updates to the Ash burton Zone Committee. Mr Ryan advised that the dairy sector is increasingly stepping up in the environmental space and recognises there are significant challenges ahead. DairyNZ is predominantly a research group and has a joint work programme with ECan. The industry wants to see growth but do not want to see existing farmers make reductions in order to allow further land use changes.

Mr Ryan will arrange a meeting to discuss zone specific initiatives if members were interested.

Mike Hyde presented an overview of Supply Fonterra programmes, initiatives to encourage change on farms. Ongoing changes to programmes are expected as Fonterra's Water Accord is implemented and more targets are to be met.

Specifically in the Ashburton Zone 99.73% of Fonterra Defined Waterways are permanently stock excluded.

The deputation was taken at 12:12pm.

9 Zone Focused ECan Staff Teams Mr Don Rule, Director Consents and Planning, attended the meeting to discuss the memorandum from Environment Canterbury's Chief Executive, Mr Bill Bayfield. A pilot zone team will be set up in Hurunui­ Waiau Zone in March 2015 with other teams being established between July and December 2015. The team will work directly with the Zone Committee, to ensure that their priorities are being addressed and the outcomes are achieved.

10 Consents Update- River Openings

The closing date for submissions should read 14 April2015.

4 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28 April 2015 Agenda 11 General Updates Ben Curry advised that the power station at Highbank is out of operation due to maintenance requirements. The RDR water is currently bypassing the station via the north and south branches ofthe Ash burton river. HDWP have asked if they can put water in the Hinds River. This is being considered by Arowhenua. • Regional Committee The Regional Committee Meeting is to follow this meeting at the Ashburton District Council. • Hinds Drains Working Party An application forfunding is with the Biodiversity subgroup for the committee.

12 Summary/Actions Any questions regarding Mr Jock Ross' proposal should be directed to the facilitator.

13 Next meeting The next meeting of the Ash burton Water Zone Committee will be held on 28 April 2015 in the Council Chamber, Ash burton District Council at lpm.

Ben Curry lodged an apology for the April meeting.

The meeting closed at l.llpm.

5 CWMS Ashburton Zone Committee 28 April2015 Agenda 6 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28 April2015 Agenda Ash burton Zone Committee Report

Date 28 April2015 Report to Ash burton Water Zone Committee From Principal Water Quality Scientist, Environment Canterbury Subject Carters Creek Water Quality Issues

9 Carters Creek Water Quality Issues

Purpose To recap the water quality issues associated with Carter Creek and develop a way forward.

Action Identify and agree on the next step.

Report The zone committee has identified the water quality issues of Carter Creek as a priority. The Zone Committee began working on these issues in 2013 before it was overtaken by the Hinds sub-regional process. This is an opportunity to recap the issues, remind ourselves where we got to and develop a way forward.

ADRIAN MEREDITH Principal Water Quality Scientist

7 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28April2015 Agenda 8 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28April2015 Agenda Ash burton Zone Committee Report Date 28 April2015 Report to Ashburton Water Zone Committee From Biodiversity Officer, Environment Canterbury Subject Immediate Steps Fund update and new projects for consideration

10 Immediate Steps projects

Purpose To provide an update of current Immediate Steps Projects within the Ash burton Zone and present three new projects for consideration.

Recommendation That the zone committee receives this update and supports funding three new Immediate Steps projects.

Project Updates To date twenty five projects have been approved by the Ash burton Zone Committee (excluding projects where the funding has been retracted) (Table 1, Figure 1). Eight ofthese projects have been completed while the remainder are either underway or await agreement completion. To date $324,411 of Immediate Steps funding has been allocated, a total of $175,589 remains to be allocated.

Looking forward there are several potential projects currently under development for consideration for the Ash burton Zone Committee in the future (Table 2).

Table 1: Overview and status of approved Ash burton IMS projects.(*) Indicates funding retracted.

Project Name Brief IS funding Status description allocation (*) - Approved 2011 Glenariffe Stream Fencing $20,000 Completed. Lake Heron Fencing $14,000 Completed. Upper Rakaia River- Weed control $10,800 Completed. Whitcombe Landcare Group Approved 2012 Gawler Stream and Wetland Fencing, weed $26,644 In progress. control Pudding Hill Fencing, weed ($8,133*) Funding retracted as control landowner decided not to go ahead with QEII covenant. Pudding Hill- Kahikatea Fencing $3,500 Completed. Wetland 9 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28April2015 Agenda l Swamp Grass and Track Fencing I $14,475 j Completed. Paddock Wetlands ) i Upper Rangitata River- Weed control $20,000 ! Completed. 1 Department of Conservation I Vehicle Management Upper Sign age ($4,500*) Funding placed back in the Rakaia pool (see previous updates). 1 May be reviewed in the I future, the current sign age not considered sufficient. 1 -- Approved 2013 - ---, Ashburton/Hakatere River ! Install vehicle $4,359 Completed. Vehicle Gates ! access gates I Black Hill Station Blackberry j Weed control $12,000 Applicant notified but may I Control I not accept funding. Ii Glenfalloch Wetlands ! Fencing, I $20,250 c.ontract with landholderfor I I planting s1gnature. 1 I I Harris Scientific Reserve Plant $5,320 In progress. I i Plantings propagation, planting Lincoln Hills Wetland Fencing, ($13,700*) Project on hold and funding planting I allocation has been I retracted as landholder will not sign contract. Mount Hutt Wetland Fencing, $33,800 Fencing completed and planting stage 1 planting completed. 1 i' I Phase 2 planting and j ongoing maintenance in I progress. i Mount Somers Biodiversity Fencing, $26,605 In progress. All fencing Project planting completed. I South Rakaia Huts Domain Weed control, $4,000 In progress. Earthworks ' planting 1 complete, planting j co~plete. Ongoing

I marntenance. I Upper Rakaia River Phase 2- Weed control $20,650 I Contracting and weed : Whitcombe Landcare Group control work in progress. ! Woodvale Road Wetland Fencing, $5,000 Completed. planting i Approved 2014 ---· -- CaREx Waterway Rehabilitati;n I Planting $11,220 In progress. All planting I I -Ash burton Forks I I completed, ongoing maintenance. I 1 CaREx Waterway Rehabilitation Planting, $23,380 In progress. All earthworks I 1- Harris C Drain weed control, J and planting completed, ! re-battering ongoing maintenance. 10 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28 April2015 Agenda CaREx Waterway Rehabilitation Planting $3,962 In progress. All planting -Boundary Drain completed, ongoing maintenance. Woodvale Road Wetland Stage Fencing, $8,860 In progress. 2 planting Flynn Stream Enhancement Fencing, $8,250 In progress. Planting planting completed, ongoing maintenance. Darra Downs Restoration Fencing, $8,293 In progress. Planting planting completed, ongoing maintenance. Somerview Restoration Fencing, $8,038 In progress. planting Approved 2015 Coldstream and Wetland Fencing, $5,605 In progress. Fencing and planting, bank battering completed. earthworks Taylors and Windermere Drains lnstream $5,400 Agreement in progress. Habitat Enhancement enhancement Total approved to date I $324;411 i

Table 2: Overview of potential future projects for Ash burton IMS funding.

Scoping new projects - -- Project Name I Brief description Potential I Status IMS funding Okawa Wetland Planting $12,925 For consideration at this meeting. Upper Rangitata River Predator control $23,000 For consideration at this Predator Control Project meeting. Stave ley- Westray Farm Fencing, planting $10,520 For consideration at this Poaka Kahikatea Bush meeting. Protection Coldstream Creek and Fencing, planting, $12,000? In development. Coastal Wetland weed control Carneys Road Wetland Fencing, weed ? In development. control Methven Wetland Reinstatement of $4,700? In development. water flow, fencing, removal of willows and planting native wetland species. Sawmill Road Stream and Fencing. ? In development. Wetland Enhancement

11 CWMS Ashburton Zone Committee 28April2015 Agenda 10 5G- Map 1: Twenty five Immediate Steps Projects funded to date within the Ash burton Zone (red squares). The three new projects for consideration are also plotted (green squares). Projects with multiple stages are only represented by a singular red square.

12 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28 April2015 Agenda APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING

The Zone Committee has received three new applications forfunding for approval at this meeting. Funds allocated to date for the zone is $324,411.

Project Name Funds Requested from the Funds Provided by Other Total Fund Zone Committee Sources Okawa Wetland $12,925 $20,725 $33,650

Wetland area to be restored. Several native sedges are Close up photo of the small meandering stream where native scattered throughout and stock proof fencing surrounds the ecosourced planting will occur, exotic grasses dominate the project area. riparian zone, with some scattered native sedges.

Project aim: Increased wetland and stream habitat quality, and increased ecosystem health.

Project summary: This project requests $12,925 of Immediate Steps Funding, with a total project cost of $33,650. The project involves the riparian planting of a small meandering stream (a tributary of Limestone Creek) and wetland area. Stock proof fencing already surrounds the stream and wetland area. The requested funds are for native ecosourced plants, combiguards and some funds towards a planting contractor (recommended due to site difficulties). The overall project is large and involves restoring the entire stream and wetland area; this is the first stage in a two-stage project. The landowner is committed to the whole project.

Proposed activities: • Native ecosourced plant establishment (4,000 plants) and ongoing maintenance • Installation of a sign to indicate funding from Immediate Steps

13 CWMSAshburton Zone Committee 28 April2015 Agenda Outcomes sought: • Restoration of wetland and riparian vegetation • Provision of instream shade and habitat for fish and invertebrates • Increased water quality through a large intact riparian buffer

Ecological score: Moderate (41 %)

GISmo 30

Map 2: Location of the Okawa Wetland Project, black arrow indicates project location (NZTM: Easting: 1463351.70; Northing: 5155969.43).

14 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28 April 2015 Agenda Project Name Funds Requested Funds Provided by Other Total Fund from the Zone Sources Committee Upper Rangitata River $23,000 Explained below $1,214,178 Predator Control Project

Project aim: To increase native bird survival and productivity by reducing predator levels across the whole project area (Map 3).

Project summary: Intensive, strategic, large-scale predator control project within the upper Rangitata to protect priority braided river bird populations.

The project will focus on recovery of two key bird species: wrybill (nationally vulnerable) and black-fronted tern (nationally endangered), but additional bird and reptile species are expected to benefit as well. Bird species (chicks and adults) are subject to high levels of mortality from predation by introduced predators, this is considered to be a major source of population decline. This project applies a large-scale approach to biodiversity management, involving multiple partners and a long-term management and monitoring plan.

Proposed activities: • Landscape-scale predator control (cats, mustelids, hedgehogs, rats, black-backed gulls), operational for 8 months of each year. • A total of 781 kill traps will be set up across the site. • Area covered: 30+ km of riverbed: Stage 1 from the Mt Sunday I Potts River area to Forest Creek; and Stage 2 from Forest Creek downstream to the Pudding Valley Creek I Coal Creek area near the Rangitata Gorge. • The requested funding will support the set-up of predator control traps in Stages 1 and 2, and the ongoing trap maintenance/checking.

Outcomes sought: • Decreased predator numbers in the Upper Rangitata River • Increased fledgling survival rate for the wrybill and black-fronted tern • Increased adu It survival for the wrybill and black-fronted tern

Ecological score: High (85%)

Funding Summary • Over the next seven years DOC has committed $951,178 towards this project (a breakdown of these costs is available). The total project cost is $1,214,178. • They are requesting $263,000 over seven years from the Ashburton Immediate Steps Fund, Orari­ Opihi-Pareora Immediate Steps Fund and the Braided River Regional Initiatives Programme. How this funding is split between these three different sources is still to be determined following ongoing consultation with both Zone Committees. 15 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28April2015 Agenda • The Orari-Opihi-Pareora Zone Committee has provided $31,500 funds for the first two years of the project. $31,500 funds were also requested from the Ash burton Zone Committee. • The Ash burton Biodiversity subgroup thought $23,000 was more appropriate ($11,500 per year), with the reasoning that it is an important project, but they did not want to be oversubscribed and there is also the Rakaia River to hopefully be considered for a similar project in the future.

!Approximate boundaries for predator control in upper Rangi ~tata River ] --.. 0

Map 3: Location of the Upper Rangitata River Predator Control Project: Stage 1, Mt Sunday to Forest Creek; Stage 2, Forest Creek to Pudding Valley Creek I Coal Creek.

16 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28 April 2015 Agenda Black-fronted tern preyed upon by a cat in the Rangitata River (2006).

Wrybill information: Numbers have declined from around 7000 birds in 1965, to just over 4000 in 2001. Greatly restricted range, they used to be found on nearly all braided rivers along the east coast of the South Island, but now 80% are found solely in the Rakaia and Rangitata.

28 April2015 Project Name Funds Requested ! Funds Provided by Other Total Fund j I I from the Zone Sources Committee I ' Stave ley- Westray Pokaka $9,520 $4,761 $14,281 ! i Kahikatea Bush i

Project aim: To protect and restore a 2.4 ha black beech, pokaka and kahikatea remnant forest swamp.

Project summary: This project involves the protection of a remnant kahikatea, pokaka, black beech forest swamp in Staveley, Ash burton. There is a wide range of native vegetation present onsite, but the site currently has cattle access throughout and this is having a huge effect on recruitment and regeneration. A QEII covenant is going to go ahead on this important remnant swamp bush area. The project requests $9,520 from Immediate Steps for 1,050 m of stock proof fencing, which will fence the forested area off into two blocks. As per the Biodiversity subgroups recommendations this also includes the cost of two gates, which will prevent stock loitering in the corridor between the bush blocks.

Proposed activities: • 1,050 m of stock proof fencing and gates to prevent stock loitering • QEII covenant • Installation of a sign to indicate funding from Immediate Steps

Outcomes sought: • Protection and natural regeneration of native black beech, pokaka and kahikatea forest • Increased forested habitat for birds and insects • Increased swamp habitat quality

Ecological score: Moderate-High (66%)

Looking up into the forest (beech, cabbage tree) canopy 18 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28 April2015 Agenda GISmo 3.0

..,. ___ ,______..,.._ .... .: __ 1"-~·-- 0 0.3 oe ,.,. ;2 "*'--·---·---~r.:a••c..-:---;er-=.awt_"'"_OMI: _, ..\ ...~ -·-t.--.yl\..-,lc.---.... --...... a.c...... _, ••• -..-~. ..,. ~'"- ·-v--. --~..-... .--,..,.. .., "-""--~·.-..oc:•.-..•.. _..., ,...... ,_:~r -~N .::>n:tf/1--~---~· ... - .. - -"" N

The southern edge of the remnant native swamp-forest In the middle of the forested area, note the stock patch damage and lack of natural regeneration

JESSICA HILL Biodiversity Officer 19 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28April2015 Agenda Ash burton Zone Committee Report

Date 28 April2015 Report to Ash burton Water Zone Committee From Land Management Advisor, Environment Canterbury Subject Area north of the Ash burton River

11 Area north of the Ashburton River

Purpose To update the zAshburton Zone Committee on what is happening in the area north of the Ash burton River.

Report The briefing will focus on the area north of the Ash burton River. This area is currently scheduled to go through a sub-regional process (like the Hinds) in 2018/19. This presentation will cover the current "state of play" in this area, including how landowners and industry are adapting to the provisions in the proposed Land and Water Regional Plan, as well as highlight some of the things that can be done to help.

DAVE ASHBY Land Management Advisor

20 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28 April2015 Agenda Ashburton Zone Committee Report

Date 28 April2015 Report to Ash burton Water Zone Committee From Zone Committee Facilitator, Environment Canterbury Subject Response to questions from Ash burton District Council

12 Response to questions from Ash burton District Council

Purpose To respond to questions raised by Ash burton District Council during their discussion on the zone committee's last update. ·

Report A summary of the work of the zone committee is tabled at each Ash burton District Council meeting. The last summary generated some discussion about "ECan's goal to have 'eveiJI river swimmableJJJ and a "suggestion that consultation should be carried out with the community to determine the priority- ie whether the black billed gulls should remain at the expense ofhaving a river that's not safe to swim in". The council also requested a map of the sites monitored on the Ash burton River. Below provides a response to the issues raised. Also included is a table provided to the Ashburton River Water users group showing the flows in the Hakatere/Ashburton River since 2004. Goals The CanterbuiJI Water Management Strategy(CWMS) contains a vi son, principles and ten targets to be achieved by 2015, 2020 and 2040.

The vision of the CWMS is: "To enable present and future generations to gain the greatest social, economic, recreational and cultural benefits from our water resources within an environmentally sustainable framework'~ The values are broken into first and second order values and targets.

The ten targets of the CWMS cover Ecosystem health and biodiversity Water-use efficiency Natural character of braided rivers Irrigated land area Kaitiakitanga Energy security and efficiency Drinking water Regional and national economies Recreational & amenity opportunities Environmental limits

21 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28April2015 Agenda The value the community places The value the community places on water - prim ry on water - secondary

All ten targets are to be pursued in parallel. There is no target to make every river swimmable. One of the CWMS targets, however, is that for at least 80% of river bathing sites to be graded suitable for contact recreation by 2015. A report on progress toward the CWMS targets is currently being prepared by Environment Canterbury and should be available in July/August. The zone committee's role has been to develop programmes of work to implement the ten targets in each zone (Zone Implementation Programmes or ZIPs). One of the priority areas of work the Ash burton zone committee has identified is to:

1 "Improve and protect the natural character and mauri ofthe Hakatere/Ashburton River" • The zone committee's envisaged that this would include ensuring there would be sufficient and reliable water flows to satisfy the needs for fishing swimming, birds, plants, fish and invertebrates and to enable mahinga kai gathering and farming The zone committee also wishes to see improvements in water quality between SHl and the river 2 mouth to a standard that would enable contact recreation and ensure that fish are edible • This, however, could not be achieved at the expense of the first order values. Work currently underway to improve the Hakatere/Ashburton River includes: • The work of Ash burton District Council to: o Improve storm-water and waste water infrastructure o Progressively close the stock-water network and surrender some of the current consented take from the Hakatere/Ashburton River • Major water users to review their sharing regime in an effort to keep the Hakatere/Ashburton River above minimum flow levels during dry periods. • Request from the zone committee to Environment Canterbury to confirm the source of high e-coli levels recorded during low flows in summer (previous data has indicated the source of e-coli is neither human nor animal). • Provisions in the proposed Land and Water Regional Plan that: o Requires an increase in minimum flows by 2023 as recorded at SHl o Limits stock access to waterways o Require farm plans, nutrient budgets etc depending on the nutrient zone

1 Page 14Ashburton ZIP 2 Page 19 Ash burton ZIP 22 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28April2015 Agenda • Industry such as Fonterra, DairyNZ, lrrigationNZ, fertilizer companies and others are working with landowners to manage nutrients, limit stock access to waterways, assist with the development and auditing of farm environment plans etc.

Further Data on Hakatere/Ashburton River Flows It is clear that the river this year has been very low compared with the last 10 years average. The darker the red, the lower the flows, while the darker blue shows higherflows. The North Ashburton, Taylors and Bowyers show this year as the lowest in the last 10 years, while the SH1 site shows the 2"d lowest flows and the South Ash burton the 3rd worst year.

Taylors South Ash burton North Ash burton Stream at Bowyers Ashburton at at Mt Somers at Old Weir SH72 Stream at SH72 SH1 Hydro Year 68806ALF 68810ALF 68819 ALF 68822ALF 68801ALF 2004-2005 4.665 2.960 0.560 0.357 3.940 2005-2006 3.739 2.674 0.603 0.312 2006-2007 4.552 2.461 0.555 0.340 2007-2008 2.314 0.518 0.289 2.852 2008-2009 3.350 0.728 0.231 3.936 2009-2010 0.524 _3.366 2010-2011 .981 5.660 2011-2012 0.802 4.157 2012-2013 0.661 0.293 4.012 2013-2014 4.467 4.872 2014-2015 3.885 2.537 MALF 2004-2014 4.384 2.890 0.648 0.337 3.797 ALF =Annual Low Flow refers to the Averaged Lowest 7 days of flow in each hydro year MALF =Mean Annual Low Flow refers to the mean of the ALF's.

Note If ADC surrenders its entire take to the river then MALF 2004-2014 SH1 3.797 + 6.256 (ADC consented take)= 10.053 cumecs. However, significant flows from the river are lost to surrounding groundwater and it is very unlikely that all 6.256cumecs will reach SHl.

23 CWMSAshburton Zone Committee 28April2015 Agenda 24 CWMS Ash burton Zone Committee 28 April2015 Agenda 1

Canterbury Regional Council

Proposed Variation 2 (Hinds/Hekaeo Plains)

to the

Proposed Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan

MINUTE AND DIRECTIONS OF HEARING COMMISSIONERS

on preparation for hearing of submissions

[Minute 1]

INTRODUCTION

1 At its meeting on 19 March 2015 the Canterbury Regional Council ('the Council') under section 34A of the Resource Management Act 1991 ('the Act') appointed us to be hearing commissioners. The Council delegated to us the functions and duties of hearing submissions on proposed Variation 2 to the Proposed Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan, and of making recommendations to the Council on them.

2 The hearing commissioners are:

David Sheppard (chair) Raewyn Solomon Rob van Voorthuysen.

NOTICE OF HEARING

3 Notice is hereby given that a public hearing by the Hearing Commissioners will be held to consider the Proposed Variation 2 to the proposed Land and Water Regional Plan and the submissions and evidence received .

DATES: 16 June- 19 June 2015

29 June- 3 July 2015

13 July-17 July 2015

VENUE: Lincoln Events Centre, Meijer Drive, Lincoln

TIME: Hearing Commences at lO.OOam

DIRECTIONS

4 A Section 42A report is being prepared by Council officers. That s42A Report will be made available on the Council website (www.ecan.govt.nz/lwrp-v2.) on 24 April 2015.

5 Under section 418(3) of the Act, we direct that any submitter who wishes to give evidence or who wishes to call a witness (including a planning witness), provide a full statement of the evidence to Environment Canterbury (for the attention of Sarah Drummond). That evidence must be received by the Council not later than S.OOpm on 15 May 2015. The Council will place the evidence statements on the Environment Canterbury website (www.ecan.govt.nz/lwrp-v2.) within 5 working days of receipt, to allow sufficient time for the evidence to be read before the substantive hearing starts.

25 2

6 If any submitter wishes to call any rebuttal evidence, a full statement of that rebuttal evidence must be received by Council not later than S.OOpm on 29 May 2015.

7 Any evidence or any other written communication with the Hearing Commissioners is to be mailed to Environment Canterbury, PO Box 345, Christchurch 8140 Attention Sarah Drummond; delivered to Environment Canterbury at 17 Sir Gil Simpson Drive, Christchurch; or emailed to [email protected]

8 Sitting times for the Hearing will be as follows:

Monday: 10.00am - 4.30pm

Tuesday to Thursday: 9.30am - 4.30pm

Friday: 9.00am - 2.00pm

9 Breaks for morning and afternoon tea wili be for 15 minutes, and for lunch one hour. There will be flexibility around timing of breaks to avoid unnecessary interruptions to submitter presentations.

SCHEDULING HEARING OF SUBMISSIONS

10 The hearing of submitters who have asked to be heard will be scheduled after consultation with submitters. Any submitter may ask the Environment Canterbury hearing officers about the place of their submission in the order.

11 Each of the hearing commissioners will be reading the submissions and all statements of evidence prior to the hearings. So in general, each submitter will be scheduled up to 20 minutes to speak to the submission and present any evidence. A further 10 minutes will be scheduled for questions by the hearing commissioners.

12 Some submitters may need more time than that. Any submitter who needs more time is to advise the Environment Canterbury hearing officers of the length oftime required, explaining why more time is needed. This advice is to be received not less than 3 weeks prior to the commencement of the hearing week during which the submitter is appearing.

David Sheppard for and on behalf of the Hearing Commissioners

David Sheppard (Chairperson) Raewyn Solomon Rob van Voorthuysen

13 April 2015 Ashburton Zone Committee Meeting

Tuesday 28 April 2015

Timetable

Time Item 1:00pm Meeting Commences

2:30pm Afternoon Tea

Order of Business

1 Welcome and Karakia 2 Apologies- Ben Curry 3 Extraordinary Business 4 Register of lnterests ...... 1

5 Confirmation of Minutes ...... 3

6 Deputations 7 Correspondence 8 Biodiversity subgroup - review of membership 9 Ash burton River and Carters Creek Water Quality Issues ...... 7 10 Immediate Steps projects ...... 9 11 Area north oftheAshburton River ...... 20

12 Response to questions from Ash burton District Council ...... 21

13 Updates • Augmentation of Hinds River • Ash burton River Water Users' Group • Ash burton District Council stockwater • Hinds Drains Working Party • Proposed variation 2 (Hinds/Hekaeo Plains) to PLWRP ...... 25 14 Summary/Actions

15 Next Meeting- 26 May 2015

Order of Business ...... 27

27 Ashburton Zone Committee Meeting 28 April2015 Agenda