Draft LFPC 84: making a difference for land and freshwater
A supporting resolution from the Strategy and Policy Committee has approved the development of a draft plan change to the Tasman Resource Management Plan to address land and freshwater issues in Tasman and provide support for the Te Waikoropupū Springs Water Conservation Order.
Land and Freshwater Plan Change (LFPC) 84 is significant in that it collectively addresses land and freshwater issues for nitrates, allocation, and sediment issues across the region. A key intention of the engagement process is to increase awareness of the responsibility to safeguard and improve the quality of our freshwater.
In setting the priority issues for the LFPC we are mindful of the need for flexibility around the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management due to some legislative uncertainty.
Council also recognises that some changes may take time and any change needs to be practical and affordable to communities responsible for that change. Any consideration to raising regulatory standards will only be factored where existing standards fall short.
Priority issues for LFPC 84 are:
- Support for Te Waikoropupū Springs Water Conservation Order.
- Updating the plan provisions for the Waimea Community Dam and management of nitrates in the Waimea Plains aquifers.
- Allocation concerns in some catchments, including the Deep Moutere Aquifers.
- Land disturbance and sediment management.
- Waterbody health and management, and
- Waterbody and community resilience to our changing climate.
The Environmental Policy and Environmental Information teams are currently carrying out a series of workshops with Councilor's to test the direction for recommended land and freshwater policy changes.
Workshops are topic based and iwi representatives are invited to share their work from the Te Puna Korero forum. The material presented and subsequent discussion has proved invaluable.
The bulk of our engagement with stakeholders and the public will be carried out once the draft plan change is released where the detailed changes will be available to inform feedback. Until then we are looking to defer most stakeholder meetings.
However Environmental Policy and Catchment Facilitation staff are undertaking some targeted discussions with key stakeholders previously committed to both the process and underlying methodologies. Staff are also undertaking informal testing on recommended policy changes with key individuals to ensure they are practically implementable.
Once the draft Land and Freshwater plan change is released for public feedback a decision on public notification of the plan change will follow. But only once the Council has considered feedback on the draft plan change.
Read "Council advances the development for freshwater management and Tākaka Freshwater Action Plan" here.
Bookmark this page for updates and information prior to the release of the draft LFPC and if you have any questions, regarding the WCO please email us at wco@tasman.govt.nz and for enquires on the plan change please email us at freshwater.plan@tasman.govt.nz
