- a. Controls on discharges to water
- b. Controls on land clearance and earthworks
- c. Controls on water abstractions
- d. Information
3. Water Quality and Quantity
a. Controls on discharges to water
Under the Resource Management Act, regional councils are responsible for managing water quality. Objectives include protecting native flora and fauna, drinking water supplies, cultural and recreational values, and commercial needs for clean water. Any significant point source discharge to water requires permission from the regional council, usually subject to conditions. In the agricultural sector, this applies primarily to discharges from effluent ponds of dairy and other intensive livestock operations and discharges from agricultural processors and input manufacturers. All regional councils charge application fees, and these are increasing as councils move to recover all costs associated with processing applications and monitoring compliance.
Implementing agency: Regional councils
1994/95 Budget: Included in 1h; largely recovered through user fees.
b. Controls on land clearance and earthworks
c. Controls on water abstractions
Regional councils also manage water quantity, with objectives including protecting native flora and fauna, cultural and recreational values, and availability for other uses. With few exceptions, including livestock watering, abstraction of water from any natural source requires permission from a regional council. Thus, all irrigators and agricultural processing companies requiring water must apply for permission to use water and comply with any conditions imposed, including reductions in usage to protect minimum flows in rivers. All regional councils charge application fees, and these are increasing as councils move to recover all costs associated with processing applications and monitoring compliance.
Implementing agency: Regional councils
1994/95 Budget: Included in 1h; largely recovered through user fees.
d. Information
Extension of technical advice (eg on soil conservation; see 2c) is also aimed at protecting water quality. Regional councils provide information on riparian management and other practices to reduce nonpoint as well as point source discharges to water. The Department of Conservation also provides advice to land users on riparian management.
Implementing agency: Regional councils, Department of Conservation
Budget: Not available.
Contact for Enquiries
MAF Information Services
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
Fax: +64 4 894 0721
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