Download - Regional Plan Variation 5 Protecting Lake Taupo Natasha Hayward Programme Manager - On farm Consents
Regional Plan Variation 5Protecting Lake Taupo
Natasha HaywardProgramme Manager - On farm Consents
• Background
• Landuse policies & rules
• Wastewater policies & rules
• Progress
• Outcomes / initiatives - rural
Issue: Changes in lake water quality
• Increased nitrogen levels
• Algal growths
• Reduced clarity
• Land use intensification
Why take action ?
• Lake Taupo a national icon
• Important tourist destination • national economic impacts• local economic & social impacts
• Cultural impacts - Tuwharetoa
• Start of the Waikato River – regional
Early consultation• 2000
Tuwharetoa Central Govt Taupo District Council Farmers - Taupo Lake Care Community meetings
• Meetings, media, newsletters
• Options proposed:1. Do nothing
2. Slightly lower quality than now
3. Maintain current water quality
4. Better water quality than now
Pastoral farming (93%)
• Stock urine
Wastewater (7%) – municipal & septic tanks
A new Plan - Variation 5
• Policies and rules to reduce and cap nitrogen inputs – rural and urban
1. Publicly notified 2005
2. Submissions (>100)
3. Council hearing & decision 2007
4. Appeals
5. Environment Court hearing (3-4 weeks) 2008
6. Interim decision Nov 2008
7. Final Decision June 2011
8. Operative 7 July 2011
Regional Plan Variation 5 key aspects
• Key policies• Reduce nitrogen loads from farming & wastewater by 20%,
by 2020Taupo District CouncilLake Taupo Protection Trust (public fund 81 million)
• Key rules• Farming requires consent – Nitrogen discharge allowance &
farm plans• N trading / offsetting rule• Septic tanks near lake edge require consent post 2013
Progress
LTPT removed 100 tonnes (over half way to target)
NDA’s - 97 % pastoral area
Farm/nitrogen management plans - 80% pastoral area
30 farming consents granted + 14 applications
20% N reduction policy for wastewater achieved
Strategy for septic tanks near lake – improvements and consent
Outcomes / initiatives
• Current farming operations well below N cap
• Strategic and innovative Taupo beef brand
• Efficient farm systems
• $ from N & C (ETS)
• Research - other landuses, N leaching
mitigation options
Questions ?
&
Thank you