RESOURCE CONSENT ACTIVITIES FOR MARCH AND APRIL 2013

THE FACTS AND FIGURES Interesting Facts March and April received comparison: 1. The year has continued to be busy 11-12 year 10-11 year 09-10 year for the Consents Team. 97 99 96 2. Over the past two months the March and April resolved comparison: Consents Team has received 11-12 year 10-11 year 09-10 year 37 applications in March, and 120 107 101 28 applications in April.

3. The Consents Team granted 35 consents in March and 19 consents in April.

4. As at 30 April 2013 the Consents Team had 175 applications to process compared to 166 applications that were reported last Environment Committee.

5. The consent activity is steady at present and we expect that trend to continue and increase as the year progresses with consents going to hearings and consents coming in for water allocation.

6. The Consents Team is continuing to progress matters on the Territorial Authority Wastewater Treatment Plant and industry applications, a summary of which is provided later in this item.

NOTIFIED APPLICATIONS IN MARCH AND APRIL 2013

7. During March we publicly notified the suite of applications received from Fonterra Co-operative Group relating to the Pahiatua Plant expansion. These applications were jointly notified with applications made to Tararua District Council with Horizons being the lead agency. Submissions closed on 17 April 2013 and a total of 44 submissions were received.

8. One consent application was limited notified in March, being an application received from Aorere Farms Partnership for a renewal of Discharge Permits (land and air) and a new Water Permit (groundwater) associated with their piggery operation. The submission period closed on 5 April 2013 with a total of three submissions being received. PRE-HEARINGS HELD IN MARCH AND APRIL 2013

9. There were no pre-hearings held during the past two months, however, a pre-hearing meeting for the Aorere Farms Partnership application is currently being organised.

HEARINGS HELD IN MARCH AND APRIL 2013

10. A hearing was held on 21 March 2013 for the applications made by Rangitikei District Council relating to the Hunterville Wastewater Treatment Plant. The hearing was adjourned at the end of the day to allow for the applicant to provide the Hearing Commissioners with further information around some aspects of the proposal and for MOU’s to be finalised with Iwi. The hearing is scheduled to reconvene on Monday 13 May 2013.

11. The hearing schedule remains busy over the next year with the preparation for the Fonterra Pahiatua Expansion, Feilding Wastewater Treatment Plant, Mt Munro Windfarm, NZ Energy and Happy Hogs hearings.

OIL EXPLORATION CONSENTS

12. These consents were granted on 18 March 2013. The consents are for two drill sites near Dannevirke (Mangahei-1 and Ngapaeruru-1), and allow TAG Oil to undertake the following activities at both sites: a. drill an exploratory oil and gas well (1,895m deep at Ngapaeruru-1 and 2,305m deep at Mangahei-1); b. discharge contaminants into land associated with the drilling (when a well is drilled, drilling muds etc. are used during the drilling process and there is a small loss to the ground formation); c. discharge of stormwater onto and into land (including where it may enter water); and d. discharge of contaminants to air, including flaring.

13. TAG have undertaken the earthworks to set up the site, have drilled two groundwater monitoring wells and have begun drilling the oil and gas exploratory well at the Ngapaeruru-1 site. No works have been undertaken at the Mangahei-1 site as yet. Regular monitoring by Council staff is on-going.

FEILDING WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

14. The current consent is effectively on hold. The applicant is currently securing additional land for irrigation. The applicant is holding a meeting with submitters in early May. A new consent including additional land for irrigation is expected in the middle of the year and is likely to be re-notified.

TAIHAPE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

15. There is one outstanding submission which is likely to be resolved next month, therefore a hearing will no longer be required and consent can be issued.

BULLS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

16. The application is on hold. The applicant has been looking at including the waste from Ohakea Airbase and has been working with the NZDF. The applicant is currently redesigning the plant and a new application is expected in the middle of this year. RIVERLANDS

17. The Riverlands Bulls consent is up for review this year. Horizons staff have met with Riverlands to discuss the review process. Riverlands is currently looking at upgrading their system for additional treatment for the river discharge. The upgrades include the lining of one of the ponds and installation of a floating wetland with the intention of improving the quality of the discharge into the Rangitikei River.

OBJECTION ON COSTS

18. No cost objections have been received.

APPEALS

19. The table below outlines the consents currently under appeal.

Applicant Status A significant amount of work is being undertaken by Genesis Power Limited the various parties to resolve these appeals out of (T/A Genesis Energy) court. Mediation has taken place and on-going Castle Hill Wind Farm negotiations are occurring to amend conditions, with Consents 105949-105959 the hope of resolving the appeals via a consent order out of court. Fonterra has raised concern over the validly of the Fonterra Co-Operative Group appellant’s case and has requested a security Pahiatua Diary Factory against costs of $30,000. The judge agreed and ordered a payment of $30,000 or the appeal would Consents 104660, 106045- be struck out. The appellant has made this payment 106046 and so the appeal will be heard in court in August. Evidence is due to be prepared by mid May. With Environment Court  A pre-mediation meeting was held 15 November 2012. This was not successful.  Judicial sitting with the Judge has occurred. Horowhenua District Council  Appeal is set down for court mediation on Shannon Wastewater 15 March 2013. HDC have shown good faith Treatment Plant and purchased 85 hectares of land for a land Consents 105893-105894, discharge. They are consulting with their 105891-105892 community over the cost of a land discharge but have clearly committed to at least part of the wastewater going to land for the long term. It is hopeful that this positive step will go some way to alleviating the appellants concerns.

Richard Munneke POLICY AND CONSENTS MANAGER APPENDIX ONE

MARCH AND APRIL 2013 – OVERVIEW OF CONSENTS LODGED AND RESOLVED

Graph 1 reflects the number of consents lodged and resolved between March and April 2013.

Graph 1. Lodged and resolved consents between March and April 2013. Graph 2 provides a comparison of the number of consents lodged in March and April.

Graph 2. A comparison of the consents lodged between March and April for the years 2007-13 Graph 3 provides a comparison of the number of consents resolved in March and April each year from 2007 to 2013.

Graph 3. A comparison of the consents resolved between March and April for the years 2007-13 Graph 4 provides a summary of the type of consents that were granted in March 2013.

Graph 4. A summary of the type of consents granted in March 2013

Graph 5 provides a summary of the type of consents that were granted in April 2013.

Graph 5. A summary of the type of consents granted in April 2013

APPENDIX TWO

LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR TERRITORIAL AUTHORITY SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT DISCHARGES

When Common Receiving Applicant consent Current Status Proposed Action Name Environment expired

Ruapehu 1/03/2003 All submissions have been resolved. Decision to be granted in next three weeks. District Council WWTP

RDC lodged a new application on 18 January 2012 however We are currently awaiting a revised application. With the Ruapehu Rangaataua Mangaehuehu 20/12/2005 it was considered deficient under section 88 of the Act and resolution of Taumarunui WWTP consent, staff will work with District Council WWTP Stream returned to the applicant. RDC to get a new application lodged later this year.

TDC will be lodging a new application for the long term Tararua District Pahiatua Town Creek / Application has been notified and there are outstanding discharge of treated wastewater. This is to include proposed 30/06/2005 Council WWTP Mangatainoka River submissions. upgrades. Progress continues with their staff to get this application lodged.

TDC are required to lodge supporting applications for Tararua District Woodville Application has been lodged. Further information has been 6/10/2010 Mangaatua Stream ancillary activities. It is expected that these applications will Council WWTP requested. be made in the coming months so that progress can resume.

The application is still on hold. RDC are currently designing Once the Hunterville and Taihape applications have been Rangitikei the proposed upgrades to the plant. RDC are also resolved which is expected to be by mid this year, work will Bulls WWTP 7/10/2006 Rangitikei River District Council discussing the option of including Riverlands and Ohakea begin on preparing a new application for the Bulls WWTP discharges. which is expected to be lodged later this year.. The application has been notified and submissions closed. Rangitikei Hunterville The hearing will recommence on 13 May 2013 with a 30/04/2007 Porewa Stream A hearing has commenced. The applicant has some further District Council WWTP decision expected to be released shortly after. information to gather and the hearing is to be reconvened. Following resolution of the Hunterville WWTP hearing, Rangitikei Taihape The application has been notified and submissions closed. 27/04/2011 Hautapu River attention will be focused on getting submitters agreement or District Council WWTP Work is continuing with submitters on consent conditions. proceeding to a hearing. The applicant is preparing a revised application which Manawatu The application is currently on hold. The applicant is in the Feilding WWTP 1/06/2009 Oroua River includes additional land for wastewater irrigation. A revised District Council process of acquiring additional land. application is expected in June. When Common Receiving Applicant consent Current Status Proposed Action Name Environment expired The applicant is proposing to pipe the discharge to the Palmerston Longburn PNCC WWTP. Landowner settlements are required before North City 31/05/2010 Manawatu River The application is on hold. WWTP this can occur. It is proposed to allow PNCC time to acquire Council these settlements. Palmerston Ashhurst The application is currently on hold awaiting pipe The application will remain on hold until the pipeline is North City 6/08/2013 Manawatu River WWTP construction to PNCC WWTP. commissioned in April 2014. Council

Horizons will shortly be sending a new version of draft The application has been notified with submissions. Two Horowhenua Waitarere conditions to the applicant for comment before circulating to 30/1/2007 Land pre-hearings have been held. There are outstanding District Council WWTP the submitters. HDC has installed groundwater monitoring submissions to be resolved. piezometers to monitor groundwater quality.

A work programme has been established with HDC. Once Horowhenua Land adjacent to The application has been notified with outstanding work on the Shannon WWTP applications and appeals have Levin WWTP 7/12/2007 District Council Lake Horowhenua submissions. been resolved the applications for the Levin WWTP will be progressed.

APPENDIX THREE OVERVIEW OF OTHER SIGNIFICANT APPLICATIONS

The following table details some of the more complex applications and outlines the status of each application.

When Activity Receiving Applicant consent Description Current Status Proposed Action Environment/Location expired The applications were limited notified on 15 March A hearing date is to be set down. Discussions are The Happy Hogs Moutoa Floodgates and 2011. Three submissions were received, all of which 30/11/2010 Piggery occurring with HDC to organise a hearing (joint Limited JM Palmers Farm, Foxton wish to be heard. Pre-hearing meeting held, further process). information provided.

NZE have submitted three discharge to water permits 106031, 106032 and 106033. Further information (under s92 of the RMA) was requested to make a determination of the effects. The applicant has Hydro Electric advised they will be undertaking this monitoring in April The hearing has been postponed, waiting for Energy 20/12/2007 Power Raetihi 2012 so the information can be reviewed before the monitoring information to be obtained by the applicant. Scheme hearing.

Application 106031-106033 were publicly notified on 9 November 2011. The submissions period closed on 7 December 2011. Four Submissions were received.

Applicant reviewing the current level of treatment and Affco has lodged a suite of applications lodged relating is looking at a range of options from upgrading the Affco New Zealand Feilding Meat Land and the Oroua River, 14/05/2011 to the operation of the Feilding Meat Processing Plant. existing plants through to the viability of piping the (Manawatu) Ltd works Feilding Applications currently on hold. effluent to Feilding WWTP. It is expected Affco will lodge an updated application later this year. When Activity Receiving Applicant consent Description Current Status Proposed Action Environment/Location expired The applications were publically notified on 6 February 2012. A total of 58 submissions were received, WITH 45 wishing to be heard. Further information was Some discharges to requested under s92 of the RMA on 27 July 2012. Meridian Energy Mt Munro Hearing delayed until November 2013. Awaiting N/A watercourses, 5km south Hearing was proposed for November 2012, however Limited Wind Farm response to further information. of Eketahuna the applicant requested to delay the hearing until November 2013 to allow for further work to be undertaken to enable a better understanding of the potential effects of the proposed wind farm.

Mangatainoka and Upper The applications were limited notified on 2 December Horizons Regional Aerial Manawatu / Lower Discussions with the applicant about the process are N/A 2011 with seven submissions being received, three of Council Spraying Mangahao Scheme work which wish to be heard. on going. areas

Horizons Regional Burkes Drain Burkes Drain, Taonui The application was limited notified on 13 December N/A Applicant consulting with submitters. Council channel works Basin 2012 with three submissions being received.

The joint application was publicly notification on Fonterra Co- Pahiatua Plant Land adjacent to the 16 March 2013 with submissions closing on 17 April Application is on hold for further information due in Operative Group N/A Expansion Mangatainoka River, 2013. A total of 44 submissions were received, nine of May. Preparation for a Joint Hearing to commence in Limited Pahiatua which wish to be heard. June is underway. Applications were limited notified on 6 March 2013 with Aorere Farm 169 Tayforth Road, submissions closing on 5 April 2013. A total of three N/A Piggery Pre-Hearing meeting to be scheduled for June 2013. Partnership Wanganui submissions were received, with two wishing to be heard.

APPENDIX FOUR

NON-NOTIFIED CONSENTS GRANTED IN MARCH AND APRIL 2013

Non-Notified Consents Granted in March 2013

Discharge Permits

Applicant and Location Purpose 106625 The Organic Farming Company to discharge dairy farm animal effluent into and onto land from Limited 120 cows at 92 Koehlers Road, Palmerston North Palmerston North 106208 to discharge dairy farm animal effluent into and onto land from KG and JB Cassells Estate 450 cows at Bluff Road, Woodville Woodville 106585 to discharge dairy farm animal effluent into and onto Land from Edwards and Ormond Limited 750 cows at 252 Troup Road, Woodville Woodville 106590 to discharge dairy farm animal effluent into and onto Land from Ross Hocken 550 cows at 201 Colyton Road, Feilding Feilding 106551 to discharge dairy farm animal effluent into and onto land from WF and MT Dorn Limited 300 cows at 904 Main Drain Road Palmerston North Palmerston North 106641 to discharge dairy farm animal effluent into and onto land from GR and JA Moody 180 cows at 1320 Mangaone Valley Road, Eketahuna Eketahuna to discharge treated wastewater from the Pipiriki Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Kaukore Stream, to discharge treated 106225, 106226 and 106248 wastewater from the Pipiriki Wastewater Treatment Plant to land via Council drip irrigation and to discharge contaminants (including odour) from Pipiriki the Pipiriki Wastewater Treatment Plant to air at Wanganui River Road, Wanganui 106653 to discharge dairy farm animal effluent into and onto land from AgResearch Limited 1,100 cows at Bruns Ford Road, Bulls Bulls

Water Permits

Applicant and Location Purpose 106612 to take 73 cubic metres per day (73 m3/day) of water from well MJ and DJ Pescini number 352177 for the purpose of stock drinking water, dairyshed Levin washdown and domestic use at 717 State Highway 1 Levin 106624 to take 96 cubic metres per day (96 m3/day) of water from well Moxham Milk Limited number 353013 for the purpose of stock drinking water, dairyshed Levin washdown, and domestic supply at 53 Otawhiwhi Road, RD 5, Levin to take 1,471 cubic metres per day (1,471 m3/day) of water form well 106373 number 335221 for the purpose of dairyshed use, stock drinking JG and JA Williams Limited water, domestic supply and irrigation at 450 No 1 Line, Longburn, Palmerston North Palmerston North 106630 to take 76 cubic metres per day (76 m3/day) of water from well PR Mudford number 338145 for the purpose of stock drinking water and Woodville dairyshed washdown at 168 Range Road Woodville Water Permits

Applicant and Location Purpose 106536 to take 210 cubic metres per day (210 m3/day) of water from well Trustees of the Okehu Trust number 698005 for the purpose of irrigation, stock water and Wanganui domestic water supply at Maxwell Station Road, Wanganui 106650 to take 200 cubic metres per day (200 m3/day) of water from well Charles Harrison numbers 336161 and 336064 for the purpose of irrigation at Palmerston North 160 Napier Road, Palmerston North 106638 to take 11,000 cubic metres per day (11,000 m3/day) of water from Michelen Farms Limited the Manawatu River for irrigation purposes at 164 Poplar Road Palmerston North Palmerston North

Land Use Consents

Applicant and Location Purpose 105974 to take 10,000 cubic meters per year (10,000 m3/year) of gravel from Colorado Farm Limited the Rangitikei River for the purpose of processing of gravel at Palmerston North 274 McDonnell Road, Palmerston North to remove vegetation in a rare and threatened habitat and to 106608 and 106609 construct a culvert in the bed of an unnamed tributary of the Taumata Plantations Limited River at “Howies Block”, Waituhi Forest, Howie Road, Taringamotu Taringamotu 106639 to take 1,200 cubic metres of gravel from the Oroua River for the Manawatu District Council purpose of road repair at Oroua River, Gorge Road, Rangiwahia Rangiwahia 106631 to remove indigenous vegetation and associated earthworks for the Ruapehu District Council purpose of the realignment of Erua Road, National Park, National Park approximately 9.5 km from State Highway 4 106571 to undertake stream channel maintenance including vegetation Horizons Regional Council clearance and channel blockage from the Kahuterawa Stream at Palmerston North multiple sites

Land Use Consents – construct a bore

Applicant and Location Purpose 106651 to construct a bore for the purpose of stock drinking water and GA and KT Lynch domestic supply at 446 Pukerimu Road, Wanganui Wanganui

Land Use Consent and Discharge Permits – Oil Exploration

Applicant and Location Purpose to drill and test a 1,895 metre exploratory well, discharge water and contaminants onto and into land associated with well drilling and 106537, 106538, 106539 and testing, discharge stormwater onto and into land (including 106540 circumstances where it may enter water) from the well drilling site TAG Oil Limited and Apache and associated works and ancillary activities, and discharge Corporation NZ LDC contaminants to air from the combustion of petroleum gas Dannevirke associated with well testing (including flaring of gas) at Nagapaeruru Road, Motea, Dannevirke Land Use Consent and Discharge Permits – Oil Exploration

Applicant and Location Purpose to drill and test a 2,305 metre exploratory well, discharge water and contaminants onto and into land associated with well drilling and 106541, 106542, 106543 and testing, discharge stormwater onto and into land (including 106544 circumstances where it may enter water) from the well drilling site TAG Oil Limited and Apache and associated works and ancillary activities, and discharge Corporation NZ LDC contaminants to air from the combustion of petroleum gas Dannevirke associated with well testing (including flaring of gas) at Mangahei Road, Motea, Dannevirke

Location Transfers

Applicant and Location Purpose 103065/1 to transfer the use of Water Permit 103065, with a total daily IG and BM Easton and Lewis abstraction of 10,000 cubic metres (10,000 m3/day), at 1187 State Dairies Limited Highway 1 Levin Levin 104699/2 to transfer the use of Water Permit 104699/1, with a total daily Snow Country Gardens Limited abstraction of 1,123 cubic meters (1,123 m3/day) from an unnamed Ohakune tributary of the Mangawhero River to the Mangawhero River

Change of Consent Conditions

Applicant and Location Purpose to take 257,900 cubic metres per day of water from well number 103877/1 343006 for the purpose of dairyshed washdown, stock drinking Poplar Partnership Limited water, domestic supply and irrigation at 10 Poplar Road Foxton approximately 7.5 km to the south east of Foxton Township

Non-Notified Consents Granted in April 2013

Discharge Permits

Applicant and Location Purpose 106654 to discharge 35,000 cubic metres per year (35,000 m3/year) of Paranui Contractors Limited cleanfill into and onto land at 639 Napier Road Palmerston North Palmerston North to discharge up to 4,500 cubic metres (4,5000 m3) of discoloured 106577 treated water and suspended sediments to the Manawatu River Palmerston North City Council associated with the cleaning of three trunk water main pipes, Palmerston North adjacent to the Fitzherbert Avenue Bridge, Palmerston North

Water Permits

Applicant and Location Purpose to take 2,850 cubic metres per day (2,850 m3/day) of water from well 106607 number 335041 for the purpose of dairyshed washdown, stock M C Rowland water, irrigation and domestic water supply at 279 Aranui Road, Palmerston North RD 5, Palmerston North 106672 to take 140 cubic metres per day (140 m3/day) of water from well Killarney Farms Limited number 312023 for the purpose of stock water and dairyshed Bulls washdown at 466 Raumai Road, Bulls 106676 to take 600 cubic metres per day (600 m3/day) of water from well Y Young number 362095 for the purposes of market garden irrigation at Levin 492 State Highway 1, Levin

Land Use Consents

Applicant and Location Purpose 106667 to construct a new 6 metre pole bridge over the Piropiro Stream in The Department of Conservation the Pureora Forest Park Pureora Forest Park

Land Use Consents – construct a bore

Applicant and Location Purpose 106678 to construct a bore for the purpose of domestic supply at K Collins Brunswick Road, Wanganui Wanganui 106687 to alter (deepen) bore 301043 used for dairy farm water supply at R Major Turakina Beach Road, RD 11, Wanganui Wanganui 106690 to construct a bore for the purpose of stock water and domestic J and J Forsyth supply at 947a Rangitikei Line, Palmerston North Palmerston North 106681 to construct a bore for irrigation purposes at 386c Santoft Road, Regents Park Farms Limited Bulls Bulls

Land Use Consent and Discharge Permit

Applicant and Location Purpose 104989 and 104990 PN Industrial and Residential to discharge cleanfill into and onto land and for the installation of a Developments Limited 200 m culvert at 185 Turitea Road Palmerston North Palmerston North

Land Use Consents and Water Permit

Applicant and Location Purpose to undertake land disturbance within five metres of a watercourse; construct two 17 m long bridges, install a new 3 m box culvert, 106433, 106434,106435 and extend two existing culverts and install erosion protection in the bed 106436 of the Otamaraho and Kumeti Streams and to permanently divert the NZ Transport Agency Otamaraho and Kumeti Streams, to divert existing drains and Dannevirke construct new drains associated with the Otamaraho curve at State Highway 2, approximately 4 km south of Dannevirke

Change of Consent Conditions

Applicant and Location Purpose 6682/1 to discharge contaminated water from the Shannon Water Supply Horowhenua District Council Reservoir to a roadside drain and then to a unnamed tributary of the Shannon Mangaore Stream at 166 Mangahao Road, Shannon 102687/1 to take up to 2,000 cubic metres per day (2,000 m3/day) of water BW and SJ Phillips from the Manawatu River for the purpose of irrigation at Foxton 1036 State Highway One, Foxton

Cancellation of Consent Conditions

Applicant and Location Purpose to dam water from 22 waterways (Wahianoa Aqueduct), Tongariro 101276/1 Power Development, Eastern Diversion. Condition 5 removed which Genesis Energy required the consent holder to construct a recreational bathing hole Tongariro Power Development in the bed of the Whangaehu River