Whanganui Catchment Strategy Operational Plan 2016-17 July 2016 Endorsed by Council at the Catchment Operations meeting on xxx Author Sarah Nicholson, Environmental Management Officer – Land Grant Cooper, Environmental Manager (Land) Acknowledgements to Horizons Regional Council Front Cover Photo Horizons Regional Council July 2016 ISBN: 978-1-927259-58-0 Report No: 2015/EXT/1489 CONTACT 24 hr Freephone 0508 800 800 [email protected] www.horizons.govt.nz Kairanga Cnr Rongotea and Levin Kairanga-Bunnythorpe 11 Bruce Road Roads Palmerston North Palmerston North 11-15 Victoria Avenue Taihape SERVICE REGIONAL DEPOTS Torere Road CENTRES HOUSES Marton Wanganui Ohotu Hammond Street 181 Guyton Street Woodville Taumarunui 116 Vogel Street 34 Maata Street POSTAL Horizons Regional Council, Private Bag 11025, Manawatu Mail Centre, Palmerston North 4442 F 06 9522 929 ADDRESS CONTENTS 1 Introduction 5 1.1 Background 5 1.2 Purpose of the Operational Plan 6 2 Actions and Expenditure 7 2.1 Whanganui Catchment Strategy 7 2.2 Whanganui River Enhancement Trust 8 2.3 Catchment Demonstration Farm 9 2.4 Nursery 11 3 Targets and Summary Expenditure 13 3.1 Summary Expenditure 13 3.2 Targets 13 3.3 Environmental Grant (WCS/WRET) 14 4 Reporting 15 4.1 Bi Monthly 15 4.2 Annual Report 15 5 Appendices 17 5.1 Supporting Maps 17 Whanganui Catchment Strategy Operational Plan 2016-17 Whanganui Catchment Strategy Operational Plan 2016-17 1 Introduction 1.1 Background The activities described in this Operational Plan form part of the Catchment Management group of activities in Horizons’ Long-term Plan 2015-25. Under the Resource Management Act 1991, Horizons has statutory responsibilities to ensure sustainable use and management of the region’s land and soil resources. The Whanganui Catchment Strategy (WCS) project relates to the activities introduced in 1997 that focus on the Whanganui River catchment. It aims to prioritise an incentive programme in the area and ultimately the strategy aims to address erosion hot spots that affect downstream water quality. The strategy goals are: To maintain the water quality of the Whanganui River at a standard that protects its cultural and amenity values, and life supporting capacity. To achieve land management that minimises the extent of accelerated soil erosion. The activities link directly to the non-regulatory methods of the One Plan (Chapter 5, Policies 5-1 and 5-5), and more specifically the Whanganui Catchment Strategy is noted as a project under the methods: Project description The aim of this project is to reduce hill country accelerated erosion within the Whanganui catchment. While emphasis is to be on hill country land subject to an elevated risk of accelerated erosion, all land at risk of erosion within the catchment will be eligible for assistance under this programme. Staff from Horizons Regional Council and consultants will work with landowners to develop management plans. These plans will provide the blueprint for long-term environmental, economic and social sustainability. Research, publicity, education, information, and incentives will be used to encourage the landowner or occupier to manage their land in a sustainable manner. Who Horizons Regional Council, Ruapehu District Council and Wanganui District Council, landowners or occupiers, relevant hapu and iwi, the Whanganui River Enhancement Trust (WRET), Department of Conservation, recognised organisations representing farmers and farm consultants. Links to Policy This method links to Policy 5-1. Targets 50% of properties within hill country land subject to an elevated risk of accelerated erosion in the Whanganui Catchment will have a voluntary management plan in place by 2015. Implementation of the land rules of the One Plan will involve Policy 5-2A regarding regulation of vegetation clearance, land disturbance, forestry and cultivation. Whanganui Catchment Strategy 5 Operational Plan 2016-17 Introduction 1.2 Purpose of the Operational Plan This plan aims to set out the scope, work types and targets to be delivered within the approved funding. Scope – there are six main work areas within this project: Whole Farm Plans: Continue to provide farm plans, either by internal staff or consultants in the priority areas of the Ohura, Waikaka, Waitewhena and Tokorima catchments. We have cut back on numbers of new plans in recent years as there are few farmers who haven’t been contacted to ascertain if they would take up a farm plan; Incentives: Continue to fund environmental works to areas under operational farm plans and erosion “hot spots” throughout the Whanganui Catchment. Funding from the Whanganui River Enhancement Trust (WRET) is managed to assist this programme; Advice: Continue to provide advice throughout the catchment, as requested from landowners, and be more proactive through active membership of the Taumarunui Sustainable Land Management Group; Nurseries: Funded from the “land” budget but oversight of nurseries in Taumarunui (depot, Ohura and Manunui), along with any promotion and development of on- farm or new supplies, are managed from this area. Continue to develop three on- farm nurseries in the Ruapehu area with funding support from WRET; One Plan implementation: The land issues regarding cultivation, earth disturbance, vegetation clearance and forestry will require advice and issuing consents. The decision has been made that this work will be carried out and charged within normal operational activities within this budget or the Regional and Coast budget; and Demonstration Farm: In its third year with support from WRET. This farm aims to demonstrate sustainable land use, costs and benefits from environmental works and economic benefits from sustainable land use. Work will continue this year with continuation of the work programme, monitoring of the sediment dams and a field day. Types of work: Staff will provide information, advice and assistance as required. As with the Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI), the work is much more proactive than traditional “soil conservation” advice. The upper Ohura and Waikaka catchments have been considered priority areas and recently we have added the Waitewhena and Tokorima catchments. In these areas we actively promote farm plans and environmental programmes with grant assistance from WCS and WRET. Targets: Specific targets are set relating to successful engagement with landowners (number of plans, number of grant projects, hectares protected). Currently there are no specific targets relating to catchment outcomes, but as with SLUI, we hope to be able to report catchment outcomes (tonnes of sediment reduction) in the future. Funding: As outlined in the Long-term Plan, this work is to be General Rate funded. Note – the storm event of June 2015 caused considerable damage in the lower Whanganui Catchment, and many properties not targeted under the SLUI have issues relating to flood damage, soil erosion, stream bank erosion etc. Small blocks and lifestyle block owners have been seeking advice in larger numbers than in the past. This may result in a short term spike in work programmes with use of grant funding, small plans and advice in these areas. This is, in reality, business as usual but with a higher demand on staff time. 6 Whanganui Catchment Strategy Operational Plan 2016-17 2 Actions and Expenditure 2.1 Whanganui Catchment Strategy This work continues the pre-SLUI primary function of the Environmental Management Officers (Land). Traditionally this work was mostly reactive and involved giving advice to landowners about erosion and land use when asked, but since the late 1990s changes have been made by incorporating farm environment plans and priority catchment approaches. Staff have provided advice and information to largely rural landowners and Environmental Grant funds for eligible erosion control, water quality and biodiversity works. Within the Whanganui Catchment work has been delivered via the following approaches: . Priority catchment based around sub-catchments of the Ohura River. Research by Horizons and Landcare Research has shown that the Ohura Catchment is the biggest contributor of sediment into the Whanganui River. Further to this it was determined that much of the sediment derived from the Ohura catchment was due to a combination of natural processes from the underlying geology, and land uses that were beyond the inherent capability of the land. The Whanganui Catchment Strategy is focused on matching land use with land type and improving water quality; . Within this area the Upper Ohura, Waikaka, Tokorima and Waitewhena areas were identified as priority areas to promote voluntary farm plans, with the aim of encouraging farmers to commit to a planned, long term work programme to reduce erosion. The programme uses Environmental Grant (E-grant) funds from Horizons and WRET to encourage work to be undertaken; . “Hot spot” identification and treatment of erosion. These areas will be treated as a “one off” erosion problem. The programme uses E-grant funds from Horizons and WRET to encourage work to be undertaken; . Develop the Demonstration Farm Plan within the Ohura Catchment (see 2.3); . Support and liaise with Biodiversity and Freshwater Teams to ensure advice is consistent and allocation of E-grant funds is appropriate; . Provide advice and information to local iwi and hapu on erosion and sustainable land use options. There has been an increased level of interest from these groups over the last 12-18 months; . Provide free land use consents (cultivation, earth disturbance